The wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, in collaboration with the Women Optometrists in Nigeria (WON), has extended free eye care services to residents of Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area.
Speaking at the event held on Wednesday at the Ahiaukwu Civic Hall, Mrs. Otti, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, emphasized the importance of regular eye check-ups to prevent avoidable blindness. She cautioned against waiting until vision problems worsen before seeking medical help and urged people to stop attributing eye issues to spiritual causes.
The outreach, organized in partnership with WON and supported by Essilor, Fidson Healthcare Plc, and Altinez Vision Limited, featured comprehensive vision screenings, dispensing of prescription eyeglasses, ocular medications, and eye health counseling.
Dr. Aghukwa, who is also a member of WON, explained that the outreach was part of the association’s tradition of giving back to the host community during its national conference. “With the support of Her Excellency, we chose Olokoro as the beneficiary community during our stay in Abia,” she said.
The National President of WON, Dr. Ogechi Nwokedi, alongside her vice president, Dr. Nene, expressed gratitude to the Abia State Government for its hospitality and support. They commended the governor’s wife for championing initiatives that benefit the vulnerable, especially women and children.
Dr. Mary Ademola, Chairperson of the Abia State Chapter of WON, appreciated Mrs. Otti for her unwavering support of their outreach programs. She encouraged the Olokoro community to continue supporting Governor Alex Otti’s administration to ensure the continuation of people-centered projects.
Dr. Ademola noted that their goal was to attend to at least 300 patients and was delighted by the turnout. “We derive joy from giving free eye care to people who otherwise may not have access. Many of the participants have eye conditions they were unaware of, and today they’re being diagnosed and referred to qualified professionals for further care,” she said.
She also praised her colleagues for their dedication and efforts, highlighting the commitment of optometrists from across the country who arrived days ahead to ensure the outreach’s success.
President General of the Olokoro Women’s Federation, Lady Emily Ugwu, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the team of women optometrists and Mrs. Otti for bringing such impactful health services to their community. “Our women and men turned out in large numbers. We are deeply grateful for this generous gesture and to the First Lady for her continued support,” she stated. She also thanked Dr Chioma that brought the free eye medical outreach to Olokoro.
Some of the beneficiaries including Chief Chikwere Atu, Mrs Veronica Obani, Chibuike Okezie, Kelechi Onwusibe, Mrs Ntianya among others thanked the wife of the Governor, the women association optometrists for coming to give them better sight, asking God to reward them abundantly.
