Prime Opticals Walk for Sight: A Public Health Initiative

Community Ophthalmology

Abstract

Introduction: Prime Opticals and Eye Clinic was established 27 years ago by an Ophthalmologist (Dr Valentina Ideh). She intended that  it should be a clinic that would compete favorably with other tertiary Eye Care Centre in the State. Today the Clinic still is the foremost  private Ophthalmology practices in Edo State. The following events were organized to celebrate Prime Opticals at 25years: a program  on TV-Prime Opticals half hour which ran for 3 months; Prime Opticals walk for sight; Charity eye camp; Guest lecture and banquet;  and a Thanksgiving service. It is pertinent to note that this celebration was sponsored by Prime Opticals and Eye Clinic solely. The  interest of the proprietress of Prime Opticals in Advocacy in Ophthalmology was stimulated after she attended the Community  Ophthalmology lectures at the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN) Conference in Ibadan a few years ago. The VISION 2020  program consists of three elements: Disease control, human resource development and infrastructure development. The guiding principles for VISION 2020 program are an integrated, sustainable, equitable and excellent eye care services. Run for Sight days have  also been carried out sponsored by banks etc some are just to raise awareness of various sight threatening visual diseases other to  raise funds to cater for the visually impaired. Walk for Sight has always been the title used for awareness walk to mark World sight day  World Glaucoma day by Ophthalmologists, Lions Clubs, Project ORBIS e.t.c. It has also been advocated by OSN.