By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, ODORBN, Dr.Obinna Awiaka, has advised parents and caregivers to give their children more vegetables and fruits for healthy eyesight.

He also encouraged parents and caregivers not to take away the greens from their breakfast tables.

Speaking in Abuja, at the Children’s Sight Marathon event,organised by the Board as part of activities to commemorate the 2024 World Sight Day, Dr Awiaka explained that the Board came up with the initiative so that it can introduce healthy exercises to better eyesight.

“Give them vegetables, give them fruit, and let them also find ways to exercise their eyes by doing eye exercises. We have what we call the 2020 principle, the 2020 rule.

“That means for every 20 minutes, they are looking at the computer or their devices, they look away at 20 feet for 20 seconds, that way, their eyes will be healthy,” he advised parents.

He further explained that the programme was conceived to bring people together to have marathon, minimarathon, and short races with a view to sensitises children on the measures they are expected to take to maintain healthy eyesight.

He said:”We coined this program to end blindness. This activity is to bring people together to have marathon, minimarathon, and short races at the point of doing it. They are exercising and making sure the eyes are healthy.

“The focus is on children. That is why children are here. We want to encourage the children to exercise, come out in the sunlight, and have vitamin D.”

“You don’t have to be in the air-conditioned car, air-conditioned office, and air-conditioned in the classroom, no, come and exercise, get a bit of vitamin D,” he said.

Speaking at the event, the member representing Onitsha North/Onitsha South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Idu, while commending ODORN for the programme,
said he would initiate a constituency project aimed at promoting eye health among children in the area.

The event tagged: “Love Your Eyes Kids” was organised by the Optometrist and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria,ODORBN in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and National Eye Health Programme(NEHP).

The lawmaker explained that the project will cater to both privileged and underprivileged children, underscoring the importance of addressing visual security concerns.

He said:”The initiative will also ensure that constituents are aware of the eye health services available to them.

“Community outreach programs will educate the public on eye health and its significance, empowering them to make informed decisions.”

“Collaboration is key to the project’s success. The lawmaker will partner with optimists, dispensers, and stationers to drive the initiative forward.”

“Legislative support will also be sought. A potential bill to support eye health initiatives will be crafted inU collaboration with leaders, demonstrating the government’s commitment to addressing this critical issue.”

He also emphasized the need for collective effort, stating that effective change can not be achieved alone.

“This initiative aligns with the Nigerian National Assembly’s response to constituents’ demands for development and federal presence.”

Also speaking at the event, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, Bennett Igweh,while explaining the importance of the eye, noted that the primary security human has is the security of the eye.

He said the security of the eye is the primary of all securities, adding that gun is the secondary aspect of the security.

“It is the security of the eye because it’s what you see that matters. What you are able to see can be an ordinary eye. It can be through cameras, but you must see something before you must activate something and before you can say something.

“That’s whatever you can do to preserve your eyesight, enabling you to see and ensuring your own security and that of others – your neighbourhood, brothers, sisters, and the nation as a whole. When you see something, you’ll be able to say something,”he said.