Date: 2019-09-12

THE Kwara government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the health of the people is given priority through quality health services.

The Deputy Governor in the state, Mr Kayode Alabi, stated this on Tuesday in Ilorin while declaring open the 33rd Annual National Conference of Nigeria Ophthalmic Nurses Association.

Alabi noted that the state was on the path to greatness under the leadership of Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq

He said this was in view of his various interventions and payment of counterpart funds in the health sector among other initiatives.

"You will all agree with me that the theme of the conference is germane: "Vision 2020: The Right to Sight, Countdown to the Final Lap."

"The eyes, small as they are, are very important components of our bodies and cannot be separated from our daily life.

"The Holy Books also states that "The eye is the light of the body; if your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

"It is therefore not surprising that a discussion on this apparently small part of our body is the reason behind this big gathering of dignitaries, intellectuals and stakeholders alike," Alabi said.

He called on the participants to carry out an appraisal of Vision 2020, noting that it was barely a year to the supposed accomplishment of the lofty ideals. "The programme was launched in the Year 1999 and now 20 years down the line, how have we fared as a nation in the accomplishment of this vision?

"For this cause, and to this end, we have all gathered; and for the rest of this week, we have lined up programmes aimed at finding viable answers to this question," he said.

The Chairperson of the association in the state, Mrs Oluwatoyin Opawoye said that the right to sight was a global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness.

Opawoye said it was also a joint programme of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness (IAPB).

She thanked the state government for encouraging and training nurses as ophthalmic personnel, saying it had enhanced the accessibility of citizens to eye healthcare.

The National Chairman of the association, Mr Stephen Lamiya, said that citizens have a right to enjoy the good sight and access quality care that would promote and provide good eyesight and eye health.