About 300 rural residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have received free eye treatment courtesy of Women Optometrists in Nigeria (WON).
The FCT chairperson of WON, Dr Nibhoje Udom, who spoke at the weekend during the association’s free eye care outreach in Dogon-Gada Community in Lokogoma district of Àbuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), called on well-to-do Nigerians, government agencies and other orgànisations to partner with WON to reach out to millions of Nigerians who need eye care services, especially in rural communities. According to her, WON cannot do it alone.
For her part, vice chairperson of WON, FCT, Dr Cynthia Okoro, who also heads the Outreach Committee, called on the government to provide clinics and other essentials in rural communities.
She commended the community leaders for mobilising people for a successful outreach. She stressed the need for the public not to engage in activities that will cause danger to their eyes, which is very important in life.
“We are also ready to provide services to any individual or orgànisation that will partner with us for free eye care for our people on a large scale.
“Our primary objective is to take eye care to the grassroots and ensure that no one is left out, especially women and children in the underserved parts of the country,” Dr Okoto said.
Two beneficiaries of the free eye care and the community leaders of Dogon Gada, Rev Ngavah Ayuba and Ambassador Mazi Onyeka Nwandu, commended WON for the online.
“We remain grateful to WON and we call on. other associations to emulate them,” Rev Ayuba said.
At the event, 300 eyeglasses and drugs worth millions of naira were given to the eye patients àfter medical examination by WON officials.
Founded in 1998, WON is an umbrella body representing female doctors of Optometry across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT.