…Says Good Vision Key to Children’s Learning
…2.3 per cent of children in Imo State have refractive errors, says Optometry Chairman Imo Chapter
By Iheanyi Enwerem
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has flagged off the 2026 World Sight Day celebration in the state, with a call for greater attention to children’s eye health.
The Governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru, PhD, performed the flag-off on Thursday at Amakohia Primary School, Owerri, during an event organised by the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), Imo State Chapter.
The celebration, themed “Anya Ndi Imo Dị Mma”, adopted the global theme “Love Your Eyes”, with emphasis on “See Well, Learn Well.”
Governor Uzodimma said good vision is essential to effective learning and the overall development of children, noting that pupils with undetected vision problems may struggle academically and could wrongly be perceived as poor-performing students.
He said the 3R Administration places priority on the welfare and wellbeing of children in the state, urging parents, teachers and caregivers to pay attention to warning signs such as frequent headaches, squinting, excessive eye rubbing and difficulty reading.
The Governor also called for regular eye checks, early detection and prompt treatment, while encouraging schools to integrate eye health into their routine health programmes to facilitate early screening and referral.
Speaking on developments in the health sector, Uzodimma highlighted the expansion and rehabilitation of hospitals across the state, improvement of healthcare facilities and the full accreditation of courses at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu.
He also pointed to improved remuneration for health workers and increased capacity in medical schools, saying the measures were aimed at strengthening the state’s healthcare system and human-resource base.
The Governor commended the Nigerian Optometric Association for taking eye-care services to schools and underserved communities, and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with professional bodies to make quality healthcare more accessible.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Optometric Association, Imo State Chapter, Dr. Patrick Iwuchukwu, said about 450 million children globally have vision problems, adding that Imo State is also affected.
He disclosed that 2.3 per cent of children in Imo State have refractive errors, stressing that early detection and intervention were critical to protecting children’s education and development.
Iwuchukwu appealed to the state government to prioritise children’s eye health through legislation and policies that would make vision screening compulsory at school entry and periodically thereafter.
He also called for the establishment of a One-Stop Vision Centre and additional eye-care centres across the 27 local government areas, provision of an operational vehicle for outreach programmes, increased training of eye-care professionals and stronger measures against quackery.
According to him, the World Sight Day outreach was being conducted simultaneously across the three senatorial zones of the state—Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe.
He commended the state government’s investments in healthcare, including the Imo Robotic and Oncology Centre in Owerri, and said Imo State emerged as winner of the 2025 National Public Health Award, with the support of the Governor.
The event featured goodwill messages from partners and stakeholders, free eye screening for pupils and members of the public, as well as cultural performances by pupils.