By Okonkwo Lucille
The Nigerian Optometric Students’ Association, Uniben Chapter, is set to hold their health week from the 1st of March, 2024 through the 9th of March, 2024.
The event will play host to various activities including a much-anticipated seminar, visual screening, rally, and a dinner and awards night.
Speaking to the President of the Optometry Students’ Association, Comr. Daniel Efosa Ereyi-Usoh revealed a few events to the ACJ UNIBEN. When asked about the week’s main events, he said, “The seminar is usually the highlight…then the visual screening as well.”
Speaking about guests expected at the event, he said, “The seminar committee is working on the speakers for the program. Aside from that, we’re expecting faculty members; HOD and the like.”
He also highlighted how the visual screening is mainly handled by the students and is a way of giving back to the community.
Regarding the expected outcome and takeaway for the participants, he had this to say: “First of all, in relation to the theme ‘Scope: Shaping Contemporary Optometry Practices Through Education,’ over time we’ve heard, our lecturers have always said that the quality of optometrists that leave the system these days, they are not as grounded as those of times past are in regards to optometry procedures, instrumentation, and whatnot. So, the aim of the theme is just to try and create that consciousness in the minds of student optometrists that the contemporary practices, we have to try and get as good as it was before. We have to learn the basics, and know the basics well so that when we begin to practice, it won’t be disappointing that the system is not churning out good enough optometrists as it used to be. At the same time, the best way to create that consciousness is through education. That’s basically the reason for the theme.
“The takeaway is that- it’s just to create that consciousness and that awareness.”
The event is open to all members of the faculty, and participation is encouraged across the board.