REPS PROPOSE SIX FEDERAL OPTICAL INSTITUTES NATIONWIDE TO TACKLE VISION CRISIS

The House of Representatives has unveiled plans to establish Federal Institutes for Vision and Optical Research across all six geo-political zones of Nigeria, following overwhelming support for the initiative during recent parliamentary proceedings.
Hon. Victor Obuzor, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker representing Ahoada West/Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency of Rivers State, disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The House is delighted with the bill, and has asked that the institute, since it’s one of its kind, should be replicated in the six geo-political zones, Obuzor revealed, highlighting the strong backing the proposal received during and after its public hearing in Abuja.
The lawmaker, who sponsored the original bill for establishing such an institute in Rivers State, emphasized the urgent need for these specialized facilities against the backdrop of alarming eye health statistics in Nigeria.
As guardians of public health, we must address the escalating prevalence of vision impairment, particularly in underserved communities, Obuzor stated, citing that an estimated 50 million Nigerians are currently battling one form of visual disability or the other and over seven million already blind.
Even more concerning are projections from the World Health Organization indicating that without proper interventions, these figures could double by 2050, transforming Nigeria’s vision health crisis into a full-blown epidemic.
Obuzor, who also sponsored a related bill to establish a Federal College of Optometry, noted that vision disorders are reaching epidemic proportions in Nigeria, exacerbated by limited access to ophthalmic care, particularly in rural locales.
The comprehensive legislative proposal aims to create institutions capable of offering courses leading to degrees, diplomas, and certificates in optometry and related fields, significantly expanding Nigeria’s capacity for eye care professionals.
The impact of optometric care is growing worldwide and countries have devoted huge resources towards the development of infrastructure and human capital to ensure that this vital organ of the human body is given its pride of place, because without the eyes, life and living would be difficult, the lawmaker emphasized.
House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, has thrown his weight behind the initiative, assuring that the bills, if passed into law, will address the current low level scientific research and development in vision healthcare and ensure a phenomenal increase in the number of qualified professional manpower and the establishment of more specialized eye care facilities across the country.”
Health policy analysts have welcomed the proposal, noting that it represents a significant step toward addressing Nigeria’s eye health challenges, particularly in underserved rural communities where access to specialized vision care remains severely limited.