Legal codes for practicing Optometry in Nigeria?

Optom
This question came to me from a NOSA (Nigerian Optometric Student Association)  colleague and I have surfed every strand of Google internet world, Ask.com internet world, Yahoo internet world... every bit of the internet globesphere only to come out with a ziltch- there is no mention of Optometric legal code on the internet! Lets try rephrasing the question to suit the discussion!
Any professional body must have sets of regulations to maintain its ethical standards in providing services to the public & Optometry is by no means different, despite many distractions militating against this noble profession!
In Nigeria, Optometry had been regulated by a statutory body known as Optometrists & Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN) which was establish by an Act of Parliament, Cap 09 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 ( formerly known as Decree No 34 of December , 1989). Part 1 section 1 Establishment of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria
(1) There is hereby established for optometrists and dispensing opticians a body to be known as the Optometrsts and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (in this Act referred to as "the Board").
In this Act, Optometry is defined by what I had come to realize is a generally accepted definition of this noble profession in this country. It reads, "optometry" means a health-care profession specialising in the art and science of vision care and whose scope of practice includes-
(a) eye examinations to determine refractive errors and other departures from the optimally healthy and visually efficient eye;
(b) correction of refractive errors using spectacles, contact lenses, low vision aids and other devices;
(c) correction of errors of binocularity by means of vision training (orthoptics);
(d) diagnosis and management of minor occular infections which do not pose a threat to the integrity of the occular or visual system; and
(e) occular first aid;
(section 29 : interpretations of the Act)
And our profession is refered to as 'the profession of optometry or dispensing optics (dispensing opticians);'
I think here lies the legal codes or ethical "red line" in the practice of Optometry in Nigeria. (this opinion is technically mine!).
That Act of Parliament which came into effect in the 1990s defined the function of "the Board" in Part 1 section 1 (2) (a) determining what standards of knowledge and skills are to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the profession of optometry and dispensing optics and improving those standards from time to time as circumstances may permit; [ see Part IV sections 18, 19 & 20]
(b) securing in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the establishment and maintenance of a register of persons registered under this Act as members of optometry and dispensing optics and the publication from time to time of lists of those persons; [see Part II sections 8, 9 & 10]
(c) conducting examinations in the relevant profession, and awarding certificates or diplomas to successful candidates as appropiate; and for such purpose the Board shall prescribe fees to be paid in respect thereof; and
(d) performing the other functions conferred on the board by this Act. [ Advising the Minister on qualifiaction standard Part IV section 20 (2); forming a Disciplinary commitee in a bid to ensure compliance to professional Optometric ethics Part V section 22, 23 & 24 etc]
To help us keep in line with the dos and don'ts of this noble profession here it became pertinent for a Code of Conduct for ODORBN members to be formulated. According to Dr Chinenye Timothy (OD) in her "The Optometrist's Sheperd" abstract, "Code of Conduct is a set of written rules outlining the responsibilities of or proper conduct for an individual, party or organisation." It should be pointed out here that the Code of Conduct for ODORBN was adopted in August, 2010 and it became Effective from January 1st, 2011. This set of rules mirrors the larger provisions and rules and regulations of the Act of the Parliament Cap 09, 2004.
Please colleagues lets grab a copy of our code of conduct and do better than only scan through it...lets make it the ten commandment in clinical ethics as we keep digging deep to keep afloat with the responsibilities if a Professional. Am of the view though that this Act should be reviewed to embrace advances in Optometry intrnationally.
I hope I was of help?
Thanks,
Dr Victor Ezebuiroh Victor
Note: This blog has not financial attachment anywhere and every opinion here are mine!