Abia State Governor Alex Otti has suggested each non-public and business drivers within the state to endure common eye examinations to forestall street accidents, saying good imaginative and prescient on the freeway is central to street security.
He spoke because the state marked the grand finale of the 2026 World Sight Day on the Prof. Nnenna Oti Mega Bus Terminal, Umuahia, the state capital yesterday.
Represented by his deputy governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, he stated, “Your imaginative and prescient is instantly linked to the protection of your passengers, your fellow street customers and, certainly, your individual life.
“Regular eye examinations are not merely a personal health responsibility; they are a professional obligation and a commitment to every life you carry on our roads.”
On the theme of the day, “Love Your Eyes,” with the state-specific message, “Safe Eyes, Safe Roads, Safe Lives,” Otti described such examination as an essential hyperlink between preventive healthcare and street security.
He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to initiatives that promote the well being and well-being of residents of the state as a wholesome inhabitants and safer roads are important to productiveness and improvement.
“By investing in the health of our drivers and promoting a culture of responsible driving, we are investing in the safety, prosperity and future of our entire state,” Otti added.
While commending drivers that turned up for the event, the deputy governor underwent a imaginative and prescient check to reveal the significance the Otti administration attaches to common eye checks.
In his remarks, the state’s commissioner for Health, Ogbonnaya Uche stated undetected eye circumstances might compromise driving skill and enhance the danger of street site visitors crashes.
He urged motorists to benefit from screening companies and complement good imaginative and prescient with compliance with site visitors rules, enough relaxation and keep away from ingesting something that impairs judgement.
Similarly, his transport ministry counterpart, Chimezie Ukaegbu, stated the ministry will collaborate with well being authorities, transport unions and street security companies to advertise routine eye screening and accountable driving within the state.
Speaking, the Abia State Sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ngozi Ezeoma burdened that driving expertise couldn’t compensate for impaired eyesight.
She warned that poor imaginative and prescient might delay reactions, have an effect on distance judgement and make it tough for drivers to establish street indicators, pedestrians and different hazards.
Earlier, the Administrator of the State Eye Health Management Bureau, Betty Emeka-Obasi, stated the bureau had established 25 eye clinics and imaginative and prescient centres throughout the 17 native authorities areas
The administrator cautioned residents in opposition to self-medication and patronage of unqualified practitioners, urging them to hunt skilled consideration for eye-related issues.
She inspired dad and mom and academics to make sure that kids underwent common eye examinations to forestall undetected imaginative and prescient issues from affecting their training and improvement.
The visitor speaker, Ijeoma Alozie, head, Optometry Unit, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, famous the significance of early detection and remedy of eye circumstances, warning in opposition to poor health-seeking habits and using unprescribed eye medicines.
The occasion featured free eye-screening companies, street security sensitisation, stakeholder engagement and awards recognising organisations and people for his or her contributions to eye-health promotion.
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