From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has approved a bill seeking to amend the National Eye Centre Act, 2004, to provide for the establishment of more specialist eye care centres across the country.
The bill, which is sponsored by the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and six others, is seeking the establishment of five specialist eye care centres in the five geopolitical zones, apart from the existing one in Kaduna, in the North Central geopolitical zone.
Kalu, while leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, at Wednesday’s plenary, said the proposed legislation is aimed at enhancing access to qualitative eye care services across the six geopolitical zones in the country.
The deputy speaker noted that the proposed amendment is imperative to cater to the growing population and address the rising cases of eye diseases in the country.
According to him, “As we are all aware, access to quality healthcare services, especially in specialised areas like eye care, is crucial for the well-being of our citizens. The statistics reveal that preventable and treatable eye conditions are a leading cause of disability in Nigeria, with cataracts, glaucoma, and refractive errors remaining prevalent in many parts of the country, especially in the rural areas where access to specialised care is limited.
“Unfortunately, the existing National Eye Centre in Kaduna, though commendable in its efforts, is unable to adequately meet the eye care needs of our vast and diverse nation. This inadequacy has led to disparities in access to eye care services, particularly for those in remote or underserved areas.
“The proposed amendments, thus, aim to rectify this situation by expanding the establishment of National Eye Centres to strategic locations across the six geopolitical zones of the country. By doing so, we aim to provide a framework that will enhance and improve access to quality eye care, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind due to geographical barriers.
“We hope to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of location, can access quality eye care services. This is not just a matter of healthcare; it is a matter of equity and social justice. This bill, which seeks to enhance and improve access to quality eye care in Nigeria, has the following key provisions:
“The creation of 5 additional Specialist Eye Care Centres spread across the remaining 5 geopolitical zones of Nigeria not originally covered by the principal legislation, which only provided for an Eye Care Centre in Kaduna, North West Nigeria…”