Now there is great relief for eye patients in the State as Ondo State Government has established another eye care centre at the General Hospital, Idanre to complement the Millennium Eye Care Centre in Akure.
This effort of the Government is in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and One Sight Essillor Luxottica Foundation to bring affordable and accessible eye care to the people of the State.

Speaking during the launch of the eye care centre at the General Hospital Idanre, the National Coordinator for National Eye Health Programme, Dr Oteri Okolo noted that Ondo State is the second beneficiary of the eye care centre in the country and it is a presidential initiative which was approved in December 2023 to bring affordable eye care to the people.

In her words, "we are most delighted to carry out Mr President's vision for eye health care which is on the national scale with other members of the State at the General Assembly which adopted Vision for Everyone, Accelerating action and Sustainable Development as a resolution".
Okolo noted that the initiative was aimed at committing the international community to eye health of over 1.1 billion people from preventable sight loss by 2030.

She opined that vision is important not only as a health issue but as socio-economic development which she said good vision would make individuals work well, children to learn better and elderly to live better lives without falling or depending on anyone.
She emphasized that the vision centre would be at an affordable cost which is mainly the President's vision to ensure clear vision for everyone. She therefore urged the communities to work together with the eye care centre to make the facility efficient in the community.

The Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Adeniran Ikuomola while giving his remark expressed the State's profound gratitude to Mr President and the National Eye Health Programme for supporting the Government to provide and equip the eye care centre in the State saying it would ensure efficient eye care delivery in the State.

Represented by the Director Public Health, Dr Stephen Fagbemi, Ikuomola said the initiative is also one of the cardinal programmes of the Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa administration to prioritize the health of the people of the State.

Speaking on Eye Health Care in the State, Ikuomola explained that Ondo State had always been making eye care accessible to the people and was one of the few States to launch specialized eye care hospitals some years ago.
"The initiative has been having tremendous successes and challenges and today, this is the testament to the fact that we are expanding through this new facility in Idanre"
"We are also delighted at the Staff of this hospital. We are certain that traffic will be at this center soon. We urge you to provide subsidized and quality service to the good people of the State."

Consultant ophthalmologist and Chairman, Eye Health Committee for Ondo State, Dr Stella Adegbehingbe lauded the initiative saying it would serve the people of the State better and she promised that her team would visit the hospital every thursday for consultation.

The representative of Owa of Idanre, High Chief Neren Akinnawolu appreciated the Federal and State Governments for providing their community with the eye care centre while promising their unalloyed support for the centre to make it a success.

IDANRE GETS EYE CARE CENTRE