Dr Betta Edu addressing drivers at Etim Edem Park
Charles Ekanem|14 October 2016
FIRST EVER VISION CORRIDOR UNVEILED IN CALABAR, 500 DRIVERS GET FREE GLASSES ON WORLD SIGHT DAY
Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with Nigerian Optometric Association, Cross River State chapter and Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) yesterday marked the WORLD SIGHT DAY 2016 to create awareness on vision standards for safe driving. The event started at Zoo Garden Park around 10am with a road walk and ended at Etim Edem Park with free eye screening, sharing of flyers, health talk and tips by DG CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu and other relevant stakeholders.
Speaking at the event Dr Betta Edu encouraged drivers, transport and traffic regulatory agencies in CRS to ensure that all drivers applying for driving license undergo basic visual function tests. According to her this would serve as a very strong tool in ascertaining the eligibility of an individual for commercial driving. She said study has it that visual impairment was significantly associated with the commercial drivers' rate of involvement in road traffic accident.
Dr Edu went further to advised all drivers with blur distance vision due to refractive error to get their prescribed glasses and make sure they wear the glasses when driving.
"Our dynamic Governor, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade is concerned about the sight of drivers and other road users in the state that is why he is supporting the vision corridor at etim Edem park where self examination can be done by drivers and members of the public to ascertain their visual acquity". Finally she left them with a message "Its better to loose a minute in life checking your eyes atleast once a year than to lose life in a minute and put others at risk. Please drive safely, stay away from narcotic contents, alcohol and hard drug which can endanger eye vision. Take more of fish oil, vegetables, carrot, yeast, liver, fruits, milk that contain vitamin A; good for the eyes. Remember to test your eyes annually", she adviced.
Speaking also, the President of NOA, CRS Chapter, Dr Kelechukwu Ahaiwe, said an estimated 59 percent of accidents could be linked to causes associated with poor sight. Failure to use corrective lenses for glare related reasons have motivated them to marked this year World Sight Day with drivers and road transport workers as focus to reduce the causes and prevent future occurrence. He tasked all drivers in the park to test their sight as free glasses and drugs will be given to those with visual problems. He eulogized CRSPHCDA, NURTW, FRSC for their kind support to the awareness campaign.
The Chairman of Drivers Association, Mr Effiong Akpan lauded the good initiative of the CRS government, NOA, Federal Road Safety Corp and Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency for their support to drivers, vision corridor, free test and provision of glasses for their members while assuring the DG and NOA of their cooperation to regularly check their sight which is the first safety in their profession. They resolved to support the administration of Prof Ben Ayade which according to them have strive so hard in repositioning the health sector.
Eye test were conducted for all the drivers in the park as glasses and drugs were issued to those in need of it. NOA CRS Chapter were thankful to their supporters CRSPHCDA, SFH, IAPB, FRSC, NURTW and Department of Public Health, University of Calabar for mobilizing their students for the World Sight day.
Charles Ekanem
Writes from Calabar
