Residents of Anambra State have been urged to embrace regular eye examinations as a critical step towards preventing avoidable blindness, following the grand opening of COV Optics Eye Clinic in Awka, Anambra State Capital.
Located at Queen of Hearts Close, off Old INEC Road, Okpuno, Awka, the clinic houses state-of-the-art equipment, including a refractor, non-contact tonometer, pachymeter, visual field analyser, slit lamp, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine and an advanced operating microscope, among other specialised devices.
Speaking at the inauguration, the owner and Chief Optometrist of the facility, Dr Chikodi Oranuka, said the clinic was established with a vision to make quality eye care accessible and affordable to the people of Anambra, regardless of their financial status.
Oranuka, a Doctor of Optometry with a Master’s degree in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Cells Research from the United Kingdom, described the facility as the biggest eye clinic in Anambra State, equipped with cutting-edge technology for diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions.
“Our goal is to operate this facility in a way that everybody can access quality eye care at a very affordable cost,” he said.
He explained that the facility was designed to provide comprehensive eye care services comparable to international standards.
To address financial barriers to treatment, Oranuka announced the establishment of the COV Eye Care Foundation, which will provide support for patients who cannot afford treatment.
He said treatment costs range from ₦25,000 to ₦1 million, depending on the type of procedure and materials chosen, while assuring that all services meet standard quality requirements.
He added that comprehensive eye examinations cost as little as ₦10,000, excluding prescription glasses, making routine screening accessible to more people.
The optometrist attributed the growing prevalence of eye-related conditions largely to poor awareness and delayed hospital visits.
“I believe the major issue is a lack of sensitisation. If people embrace regular eye checkups, many eye problems would be detected early and prevented from becoming severe.
“Eye examinations at least once every six months is highly recommended, because early detection could reduce vision loss caused by delayed treatment by more than 50 to 60 percent,” he added.
Oranuka dedicated the project to the memory of his late father, whom he described as the driving force behind his medical career, recalling how his father encouraged him to study medicine, despite the family’s financial struggles.
“He was my pillar, my foundation, my support and my strength,” Oranuka said, noting that the clinic stands as a testament to his father’s enduring legacy of service to humanity.
Several dignitaries who attended the inauguration praised the quality of the facility and encouraged residents to take advantage of its services.
A former Anambra State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Chief Chikodi Anara, described the equipment installed at the clinic as commendable, saying he had personally experienced the clinic’s professionalism as a client.
“I have been their client and I must say that I feel good. I want people of this area and the state to experience what I have experienced,” he said.
Anara added that Oranuka possesses the expertise required to deliver quality eye care and commended his humility.
Similarly, ACP Ugoeze Dame Nwokoma, in charge of Administration at Police Zone 13, Ukpo, testified to the clinic’s professionalism, recalling that she received excellent care even before the facility moved into its permanent location.
In his goodwill message, Engr Ifeanyichukwu Okoye of Gorini Group described Oranuka as “a good man” and prayed for the clinic’s continued growth.
The traditional ruler of Okpuno in Awka South Local Government Area, Igwe Engr Sunday Okafor, also commended the clinic’s modern equipment and expressed optimism that its services would improve the health of residents within and beyond the community.
As part of activities marking the grand opening, COV Optics Eye Clinic announced a one-week free medical eye service for members of the public, offering residents an opportunity to undergo professional eye examinations and access other eye care services at no cost.
The ophthalmologist, Dr Oranuka during the opening of the facility
