The Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe (FTHG) has successfully graduated its first batch of 50 dispensing opticians, a significant milestone in improving eye care services in the state.
These professionals emerged from the School of Dispensing Opticianry, which was established in 2022 to tackle the shortage of qualified opticians.
Speaking at the graduation and oath-taking ceremony, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Yusuf M. Abdullahi, emphasized that before this initiative, Gombe State had only three dispensing opticians.
The addition of these 50 new professionals is expected to greatly enhance eye care delivery, making services more accessible to residents.
Call for Employment of New Opticians
Professor Abdullahi urged the state government to absorb the new graduates into public health facilities, ensuring that eye care services reach more communities.
He stressed that this development is a crucial step in closing the gap in specialized healthcare in the region.
Optometry Board Commends Initiative
The Registrar of the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, Dr. Obinna Edwin Awiaka, who officiated the oath-taking ceremony, highlighted the vital role of dispensing opticians in preventing blindness and improving vision care across Nigeria.
He praised the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe for its commitment to healthcare education and urged other states to follow this example in training more healthcare professionals.
A Step Towards Improved Healthcare Services
This achievement signals a major leap in healthcare development, ensuring that quality eye care services become more widely available in Gombe and beyond.
Do you think this move will improve eye care accessibility in Nigeria? Drop your thoughts in the comments and stay updated with NIGPOST!
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