By Ifeanyichukwu 𝐈𝐛𝐞
The Anya Ndi Imo Di Mma Initiative, a flagship public health campaign of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), Imo State Chapter, has earned the chapter national recognition as the Overall Winner of Public Eye Health Activities for 2025 in Nigeria.
The recognition, announced in the September 2026 NOA National President’s Monthly Newsletter, represents a major milestone for the Imo State Chapter under the leadership of its Chairman, Dr. Patrick Iwuchukwu, whose administration launched the Anya Ndi Imo Di Mma Initiative in 2024 as a strategic campaign to improve public eye health among residents of the state.
The initiative was designed to take eye-care services beyond conventional clinical settings and bring accessible vision care closer to communities, while creating greater awareness about eye diseases, prevention and the importance of regular eye examinations.
A major highlight of the initiative was the massive statewide vision-care campaign embarked upon by the Imo NOA during the 2025 World Sight Week, through which residents across the state benefited from free eye screening and treatment for various eye conditions and diseases.
The campaign, which received active support and partnership from the Imo State Government and other stakeholders, also paid special attention to the eye health of drivers and motorists, in recognition of the crucial connection between good vision and road safety.
It adopted the localised theme, “Road Safety Through Vision Care for Drivers,” highlighting the importance of adequate vision among motorists as a critical component of safe driving and accident prevention.
Through the exercise, numerous residents received eye-health services, including screening, professional counselling and treatment, while those requiring further medical attention were appropriately referred.
Beyond the immediate provision of free eye-care services, the statewide campaign generated valuable data on the eye-health situation across Imo State.
The data provided important insights into the prevalence and distribution of eye diseases, vulnerable populations and geographical areas requiring targeted interventions. It also offered useful information for future public health planning, resource allocation and the development of more effective eye-care programmes across the state.
The successful exercise has been widely celebrated within and outside Imo State, with stakeholders commending the Imo NOA for the scale, reach and impact of the campaign.
The chapter’s emergence as the Overall Winner of Public Eye Health Activities for 2025 therefore represents a significant validation of the vision, consistency and commitment behind the Anya Ndi Imo Di Mma Initiative, as well as the chapter’s broader public health programmes.
Reacting to the recognition, the Chairman of NOA Imo State Chapter, Dr. Patrick Iwuchukwu, expressed appreciation to members of the association, the Executive Council and Expanded Executive Council, committees, subcommittees, teams and other groups whose dedication and contributions brought the honour to the state.
Dr. Iwuchukwu explained that the initiative, which has placed Imo State on the national and global map for effective and resilient eye-health service delivery, was conceived to take eye-care services beyond conventional clinical practice and make quality vision care more accessible to communities across the state.
According to him, the success of the initiative has placed NOA Imo State in the national spotlight and demonstrated that Optometry goes beyond clinical practice to encompass community service, public health advocacy, professional development, research, innovation, welfare and collective responsibility.
He said the initiative had also contributed to enhanced visibility for Optometry and Optometrists in Imo State, while advancing the broader objective of making quality eye healthcare more accessible to the people.
“This flagship programme has placed NOA Imo State in the national spotlight, demonstrating that the profession goes beyond clinical practice to include community service, public health advocacy, professional development, research, innovation, welfare and collective responsibility.
“Today, there is enhanced visibility of Optometry and Optometrists in Imo State because of this initiative, which has the broader goal of making quality eye healthcare more accessible to the people,” Iwuchukwu noted.
The NOA Imo Chairman expressed gratitude to the Imo State Government for its support, describing the government’s contribution as significant to the achievement.
He also acknowledged the support and collaboration of partners, stakeholders and friends of the profession, stressing that the recognition was the product of collective effort.
Iwuchukwu further reiterated his appreciation to members of the association, noting that the achievement belonged to every member who participated in eye-health outreaches, provided professional services, mobilised communities, supported publicity, contributed resources, served on committees or offered ideas towards the success of the chapter’s programmes.
He, however, urged optometrists in the state to draw motivation from the national recognition and sustain the momentum of the Anya Ndi Imo Di Mma Initiative by deepening community engagement and strengthening public health interventions.
The Overall Winner recognition marks a significant milestone in the journey of Anya Ndi Imo Di Mma, while reaffirming the commitment of NOA Imo State Chapter to promoting public eye health, preventing avoidable visual impairment and making measurable contributions to the lives of residents across the state.
