Justina Auta/Franca Ofili/
Prof. Afekhinde Omoti, the National Chairman of the Eye Health Committee, Federal Ministry of Health, has warned against the excessive application of makeup and artificial eyelashes.
He cautioned that such bad habits contribute to visual impairment and other eye problems.
Omoti said this during a media engagement in commemoration of the 2022 “World Sight Day (WSD)”, themed “Love Your Eyes”.
The day is annually celebrated on October 13, to raise global awareness about issues on eye health.
The event was organized by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and Sightsavers Nigeria, an international NGO.
According to him, the chemicals in cosmetics, bad habits as well as poor make-up hygiene could cause irritation and allergy to the eye, which may constitute a grievous health hazard.
“You may react to some chemicals and if you react to some chemicals, you will start itching and have problems in the surface of your eyes.
“Try to clean your eyes very clean from makeup around your eyes very well before you sleep and try not to apply too much heavy makeup around your eyes.
“So that they don’t find their way into the eye or around the eyes because when it becomes too much insight and starts giving rise to one problem or the other,” he said.
He added that ‘World Sight Day’ sought to draw attention to eye health and sensitize the populace on the need for regular eye checks.
He said the ministry aimed to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the integration of Primary Eye Care (PEC) into Primary Health Care (PHC) to enable healthcare to get to remote areas of the country.
“The Ministry believes that increasing access to quality eye care services, especially to the underserved in Nigeria will help the country in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
“By improving the opportunities for Nigerians to attend to their educational needs, improve their productivity at the workplace, increase the overall quality of life and ultimately an increase in the life expectancy of this nation.
“That is the reason for the commitment of human and material resources towards integrating PEC into PHC of this country,” he said.
He stressed the need for the public to seek medical help from experienced and reputable experts, rather than seeking healthcare services from quacks and unqualified persons.
Dr Hussain Adamu, the Director overseeing the Permanent Secretary’s office, the Federal Ministry of Transport, encouraged commercial vehicle drivers to engage in regular eye check-ups to curb eye defects.
Adamu reiterated the commitment of the federal government towards the transport sector, urging drivers to check their eyes at least once a year to eliminate visual impairment and blindness.
Similarly, Mrs. Eunice Odieghi, the National President of the Female Drivers Association of Nigeria, said that regular eye check would aide in reducing the rates of vehicle accidents and deaths.
“Those of us who are driving, you know, if you’re blind you cannot drive. And this is the best time for us to care for our eyesight because some of us have short or long sight.
“And I think this programme will really help those of us that are driving, most especially the women, to be on the safer side, save our family, save ourselves and save the society,” she said.
Alhaji Musa Mohammed, thevNational President of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), said the association had a Travellers Accident Insurance Scheme (TAIS) to protect drivers and passengers during accidents.
“The Travelers Accident Insurance Scheme completely covers emergency accidents for any vehicle that travels from our motor parks,” he said.
Mohammed, represented by Alhaji Muhammad Bishara, the Deputy National President, Administration, stressed on the importance of good sight for drivers to reduce the risk of accidents and deaths.
Sightsavers Nigeria conducted free eye screening and donated eyeglasses and drugs to commercial drivers at Nyanya and Jabi motor parks in FCT.
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