The Federal Government on Thursday flagged off service-wide free eye screening initiative for federal civil servants, with the aim of mitigating preventable vision loss that could adversely impact the nation’s workforce.
Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack who inaugurated the programme in Abuja, said the free eye screening would be done in collaboration with the Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation, saying early detection of eye-related conditions and prompt interventions are key to preventing long-term complications.
This is coming amidst report of global productivity loss of about $411 billion annually to vision impairment.
Walson-Jack noted that government is leveraging on the partnership with the Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation which manages one of the outstanding Eye Hospitals in Nigeria to offer free eye screening services, and where necessary, corrective interventions such as prescription glasses or referrals for advanced care.
She noted that vision is one of the most crucial senses that impacts ones ability to work, communicate, and effectively contribute to national development, lamenting however that the daily demands of the civil service duties often leave many with limited time to prioritize their health, including eye care.
“Recognizing this gap, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has prioritized access to critical health interventions, and this partnership with the Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation marks a vital step in that direction.
“Our collaboration with the Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation underscores the power of partnerships in improving health outcomes. By offering free eye screening services, and where necessary, corrective interventions such as prescription glasses or referrals for advanced care, we aim to mitigate preventable vision loss that could adversely impact our workforce.
“The service-wide free eye screening program will begin with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and then circulate across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“This phased approach ensures that every civil servant, regardless of location, can access these critical services. Furthermore, screenings will be conducted twice a month, providing ample opportunities for civil servants to take advantage of this initiative.
“Through this initiative, thousands of federal civil servants will have the opportunity to receive professional eye care. Early detection of eye-related conditions and prompt interventions are key to preventing long-term complications.
“This screening programme, therefore, reflects our mission to provide not just a conducive working environment, but also to create avenues for holistic well-being,” she stated.
Walson-Jack commended Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation for their unwavering support and commitment to the initiative, while urging civil servants, to take full advantage of the opportunity.
Chief Executive Officer of Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation, Shravan Kumar Kasam, underscored the importance of vision to workers’ productivity, saying what his Foundation is doing is give back to the society, especially civil service that is critical to national development as implementers of government policies.
Director and National Coordinator of Eye Health programme, Dr. Okolo Oteri, who represented Federal Ministry of Health at the event, revealed that vision impairment is responsible for global productivity loss of more than $411 billion annually.
ALSO READ: Delta civil servants risk dismissal for unauthorised overseas travel
She said Nigeria with low Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could not afford to continue to lose the productive capacity of its workers, saying the initiative would tremendously improve on efficiency and productivity of the Federal Civil Servants, thereby, increasing the country’s GDP. Clement Idoko
The Federal Government on Thursday flagged off service-wide free eye screening initiative for federal civil servants, with the aim of mitigating preventable vision loss that could adversely impact the nation’s workforce.
Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack who inaugurated the programme in Abuja, said the free eye screening would be done in collaboration with the Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation, saying early detection of eye-related conditions and prompt interventions are key to preventing long-term complications.
This is coming amidst report of global productivity loss of about $411 billion annually to vision impairment.
Walson-Jack noted that government is leveraging on the partnership with the Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation which manages one of the outstanding Eye Hospitals in Nigeria to offer free eye screening services, and where necessary, corrective interventions such as prescription glasses or referrals for advanced care.
She noted that vision is one of the most crucial senses that impacts ones ability to work, communicate, and effectively contribute to national development, lamenting however that the daily demands of the civil service duties often leave many with limited time to prioritize their health, including eye care.
“Recognizing this gap, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has prioritized access to critical health interventions, and this partnership with the Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation marks a vital step in that direction.
“Our collaboration with the Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation underscores the power of partnerships in improving health outcomes. By offering free eye screening services, and where necessary, corrective interventions such as prescription glasses or referrals for advanced care, we aim to mitigate preventable vision loss that could adversely impact our workforce.
“The service-wide free eye screening program will begin with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and then circulate across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“This phased approach ensures that every civil servant, regardless of location, can access these critical services. Furthermore, screenings will be conducted twice a month, providing ample opportunities for civil servants to take advantage of this initiative.
“Through this initiative, thousands of federal civil servants will have the opportunity to receive professional eye care. Early detection of eye-related conditions and prompt interventions are key to preventing long-term complications.
“This screening programme, therefore, reflects our mission to provide not just a conducive working environment, but also to create avenues for holistic well-being,” she stated.
Walson-Jack commended Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation for their unwavering support and commitment to the initiative, while urging civil servants, to take full advantage of the opportunity.
Chief Executive Officer of Tulsi/Chanrai Foundation, Shravan Kumar Kasam, underscored the importance of vision to workers’ productivity, saying what his Foundation is doing is give back to the society, especially civil service that is critical to national development as implementers of government policies.
Director and National Coordinator of Eye Health programme, Dr. Okolo Oteri, who represented Federal Ministry of Health at the event, revealed that vision impairment is responsible for global productivity loss of more than $411 billion annually.
She said Nigeria with low Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could not afford to continue to lose the productive capacity of its workers, saying the initiative would tremendously improve on efficiency and productivity of the Federal Civil Servants, thereby, increasing the country’s GDP.
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more.
Join our WhatsApp Channel now