Naija Optometry and their place in public health sector

Optom
Optometry is comparatively new in this country Naija. Before 1987, most Optometrists were B.Sc holders in Optometry (The English version of Optometry). We could not integrate or be integrated into the main stream health sector- have you noticed that in most military recruitments, Optometric qualifications are not indicated!
Does it baffle you? It's the fact.
In 1987 when the new Doctors of Optometry (O.D.) were inducted from Abia state University, a mere state university for that matter, the B.Sc graduates and undergraduates from UniBen, A federal University, were put under pressure to upgrade their certificates in ABSU to O.D.; a move that did not go down well with our UniBen counterpart, subsequently those that could afford to go to USA or Canada, where OD is awarded, left! The rest either countinued with their B.Sc Optometry till date practising & our catatonic regulatory body is not expected to bat an eyelid.
When the ODs both locally gotten or got from a foriegn universities were busy garbing themselves with their new found title they let their position to eye health slip. @ the moment, most Ophthalmic nurses would challenge an Optometrist in a public health facility! why? Because most Optometrists are not employed by the ministry of health, despite what the real sector stands to gain by such inclusion. Our Regulatory body is a toothless bulldog & a lazy one for that matter; second, our internal squabble between ABSU, IMSU or UNIBEN product dwarfed our relevance then finally no plan for Optometric department of a hospital. You might want to argue that an Optometric unit is located in the department of Ophthalmology in 'big' hospitals; what we actually have there is an Optical workshop than an Optometric Department!
Consequently, the Public health sector cannot boast to have a control of ocular related disabilities. The very many poor surgical outcomes in many government hospitals could be traced to the near absence of Optometrists in this sector. Other challenges faced in the Ophthalmology departments due to the under utilization of Optometrists includes bad refraction, poor procedural approach to eye care, poor rehabilitative eye care, poor ocular post-surgical care & outcome etc
The sustainability of eye care is a function of the Optometrist all over the world. The emphasis of the government on health care reform should not live eye care behind. For an eye care management to be effective, the place of the Optometrist both in the private & public health sectors should be the top priority. We are hence urging the ministry of health all over the federation to make practising Optometry in government hospitals a must. Let departments of Optometry in the hospitals be upgraded to challenge the overwheming cases of eye diseases or disabilities! Please we cant afford to wait anylonger.
Dr Ezebuiroh Victor.