Senate passes bill to enable FG takeover optometric hospital in Kogi

The Senate has passed a bill to enable the Federal Government takeover the staff, assets and liabilities of the Holley Memorial Hospital Ocahadamu, Kogi State.

The passage of the bill was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary).

The bill, sponsored by Senator Isah Jibrin, seeks to upgrade the Holley Memorial Hospital to a Federal Eye Centre for the purpose of promoting eye care in Kogi State and environs.

Chairman of the Committee on Health, Yahaya Oloriegbe, in his presentation, said that the National Eye Centre in Kaduna is the only specialised hospital for eye care in the country established by the Federal Government.

He said, “The new Centre when established will support the management of myriad of eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, blindness and visual impairments that afflict many Nigerians.”

The bill was passed by the chamber after a clause-by-clause consideration of the report on it by the Committee of the Whole.