Dr Tamo Joseph
Optometrist cum NW Representative ONOC
The exposure to harsh light especially computers, phones and
sun, has caused so many vision problem in people today reason why many do visit
ophthalmologist who are thereafter referred to meet optometrist for diagnose
and treatment or recommend correction glasses from an optician. Other causes of
eye problems are derived from moving barefooted in contaminated streams thereby
getting infected with river blindness.
The streets in the urban areas and mostly at travel agencies
are flooded with hawkers dishing out lenses to ignorant passengers who are
unable to resist the give away prices for such lenses that are not prescribed
by specialist or better still not recommended by any certified optometrist. As
an effect many more people are getting their eyes damaged by use of these
lenses and if care is not taken, millions would get blind when the state of the
eyes damaged from the use of fake lenses reach the irreversible. North West Representative of National Order
of Opticians/Optometrist-Cameroon (ONOC) an organization under the auspices of
the Ministry of Health, Dr. Tamo Joseph a practicing Optometrist, laments that
everyday many more eyes are being damaged by untrained persons who pass for
opticians and optometrists.
Members of the board of ONOC led by the National President,
Mbeng Theodore was in Bamenda and met with those practicing in the North West
to educate them on the harm which is being caused on ignorant population. In
collaboration with the delegation of Public Health in the North West hence
those practicing illegally shall be sanctioned beginning with sealing the doors
of their clinics. Those who are irregular have been given up to November 30 to
regularize their situation or face the strong arm of the law. The Regional
Delegate Dr. Mrs. Ngwa was so moved by this initiative saying she will not
relent in ensuring that no such illegal practitioner breaths fresh air in the
North West Region.
In a bid to curb the illegal practice in the country ONOC is
out to identify those practicing and have them regularize their documentation
and for those who have had no formal training a team would assess their knowhow
and quantify their aptitude and maybe qualify them with certification. Those
found wanting would have to go back to school given that a training school is
now in Yaounde. This applies even to those operating in hospitals and that no hospital
has the competence to carry out training on the job. Individuals most take up
their responsibility by getting registered in to the National Order as a person
not an organization in order to take responsibility their action.
The public is hereby advised to steer clear of visiting
uncertified practitioners for eye check given the complexity of the eye, once
damaged it is irredeemable. Before acquiring any lenses it most have the
recommendation of an optometrist with specificity spelt out to avoid eventual
damage of the eyes.
By Ignatius Nji
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