The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan has been conferred with an award as the first Eye Care Ambassador in Nigeria by the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA).

The president of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), Dr Damian Echendu, presented the award when he led executive members of his association on a courtesy visit to the Minister, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, in Abuja.

Echendu said women’s visual impairment is compounded mainly by the fact that women do not have access to eye care services as much as men, especially in rural areas.

“Without proper intervention, women are missing out on opportunities in the society and are excluded from productive working lives, costing them their independence and having severe economic and social consequences.

According to him, there’s still poor awareness of the need for regular eye checks, as well as poor access to eye care facilities for women.

He commended the ministry for the ongoing projects of setting up Braille Press Centres in six major states in the country, as well as the permanent site of the Nigerian farm Craft Centre for the Blind in Lagos.

Responding, Alhassan expressed delight over the award and promised to use her good offices in projecting awareness on visual impairment among women, children and persons with disabilities in the country.

She expressed dismay over the number of women and children affected by visual impairment globally, including Nigeria.

The minister of Women Affairs and Social Development urged the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) to draw up a memorandum of understanding to guide in the implementation of the partnersh