Optometrists in Cross River State have raised alarm over rising quackery and shortage of manpower in eye care delivery in the State. The practitioners raised the concern in Calabar during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, ahead of the 2026 World Sight Day celebration. Speaking through the Chairperson of the Nigerian Optometric Association, Cross River State Chapter, Dr. Ogechi Cecilia Chukwu, the professionals appealed for stronger government support for the employment and deployment of optometrists, particularly in underserved communities, as well as the integration of eye-care services into primary healthcare. She disclosed that the shortage of optometrists remains a major concern and stressed the need to improve access to qualified eye-care professionals, warning that residents could be exposed to serious health risks when they continue to patronise unqualified practitioners. Dr. Chukwu further appealed to the Ministry of Information and Orientation to use its media platforms to educate Cross Riverians on eye health and the dangers of patronising quacks, stressing that public enlightenment is essential to the fight against eye-care quackery. She also announced the Association's plan to mark World Sight Day on Thursday, October 9, 2026, with eye-health education and vision screening for teachers, whom she described as the most neglected group, while equipping them to identify possible visual challenges among their pupils and students. She described eye health as a public health concern and commended the State Government for enacting the Health Anti-Quackery (Prohibition) Law, but urged Government to move beyond legislation by creating greater public awareness and ensuring its effective enforcement and implementation. Responding, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Ene Cobham, assured the Association that the Ministry would provide visibility for its programmes through government media platforms and collaborate with the NOA on public enlightenment campaigns. Cobham also backed the call for more optometrists, advising the Association to formally communicate its manpower needs to Governor Bassey Edet Otu, which he promised to personally present and facilitate further discussions with relevant authorities.
By Daniel Nsa and Eme Edet
