American academy inaugurates Nigerian chapter, explains benefits

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) has inaugurated its Nigerian chapter and explained the benefits to gain in addressing challenges of optometry in the country.

The event, which took place via zoom, saw the inauguration of the elected executives of the Nigerian chapter with Dr Nkem Okorafor as the President and Dr Nkiruka Nwachikwu as Vice President.

Others are Dr Ejitu Isong as Secretary and Dr Chineye Nwanibi as Treasurer of the chapter.

The President of World Council of Optometry, Dr Sandra Block, said the inauguration of the chapter was a step in the right direction for optometry in Nigeria.

“I have worked with optometrists in Nigeria for many years, and I know they are working on a very high level with respect to the scope of practice.

“It is very exciting to work side by side with Nigerian optometrists. With over 40 years of my professional career, I have to say that there are a number of positive benefits of being a member of the academy.

“AAO always has the most up-to-date education based on evidence and to me, that is what we have been driving for.

“There are other good values; one of them is the importance of networking.

“So, it is not all about education, but also building relationships with other people who have similar interests to provide the best quality care,” Block said.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Pate, represented by the Director of Hospital Services in the ministry, Dr Oluwole Salaudeen, congratulated Okorafor and his team.

“We are very happy seeing this advancement in the area of optometry in Nigeria. We are looking forward to improving eye care and the team, to work in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We are also happy that as a nation, we are moving forward, especially in the area of eye care.

“So, the ministry is ready and will be happy to welcome the executives of the AAO, Nigerian chapter.”

Meanwhile, Dr Andrew Morgenstern, in a keynote address, said the goal of the academy was to take care of eyes and patients, regardless of their resident country and the type of practice (whether optomology or optometry).

“The eyes of your patients don’t care about what doctor, they just want to get better.

“However, the price in Nigeria and the U.S. is different; so, we do everything possible to lower the cost.

“We don’t care about making profit, we got to make connections for the benefits of our patients,” Morgenstern said.

He invited students of optomology and optometry to join the “Keratoconus Symposium” coming up from May 18 to 19, adding that it would help members and professionals to network and take care of patients better.

The elected President of the Nigerian Chapter of the AAO, Okorafor,

said he had been a fellow of the academy for over 20 years, adding they had expected a day that the chapter would be established.

“This will bring research and development near home. Nigeria has 10 optometry schools producing over 10,000 practitioners who form members of the Nigeria Optometry Association.

“Nigeria, therefore, has the largest number of optometrists in Africa. It is not surprising that Nigerian optometrists are generally found in almost all chapters of the AAO.

“Nigeria also has a post-graduate institute of Optometry which has produced fellows for over 15 years.

“The profession in Nigeria is government-recognised and well regulated.

“Also, Nigeria has a crop of young and vibrant optometrists yearning for opportunity, development and professional networking in optometry.

“The establishment of this chapter therefore offers them and the old ones that opportunity,” Okorafor said.

Prof. Matthew Oriowo in his presentation titled, “Optometrists in Nigeria; strategic partners with AAO in eye care advancement,” said Optometry in Nigeria started in the early 20th century in SIM Eye Hospital in Kano.

Oriowo named University of Benin (1972) and Imo State University Okigwe now Abia State University (1982) as the first and second institutions that established the Department of Optometry.

He narrated the evolution of Optometry in Nigeria, the benefits of becoming a member of AAO and attending meetings.

He added that Nigeria had about 6,000 Optometrists and AAO was futuristic in the sense that it had slated meetings for 2025 and 2026.

The Chairman of Board of Trustees of the AAO Nigerian Chapter, Dr Ngozi Musa, appreciated Block, stressing that it was a honour to belong to the body.

“The benefits of the Academy are many –  we learn, network and have the opportunity to give back to the optometry profession.

“AAO inspires excellence in eye care and optometry practice by impacting knowledge and advancing research and education in its Annual General Meetings. The inauguration of the Nigerian Chapter is a milestone in the academy,” Musa said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the high point of the event was the taking of oath by the executives of the AAO Nigerian Chapter, moderated by a fellow of the institute, Dr Demian Echendu. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman