Akor Sylvester, Abuja
The federal government has concluded arrangements to provide 25,000 free cataract surgeries to Nigerians by the end of 2027 as part of efforts to tackle avoidable blindness and expand access to quality eye care nationwide.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, stated this while commemorating the 2026 World Sight Day in Abuja, with the global theme, “Love Your Eyes,” and the national sub-theme, “Protect Your Vision, See Clearly, Live Fully.”
Represented by the Director, E-Health Division, Dr. Doris Afam Aneke, the minister said the federal government regards eye health as both a public health and development priority because of its impact on education, productivity, independence and overall quality of life.
He said, the government, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, has trained more than 3,000 healthcare workers across 16 states and activated over 1,400 primary healthcare centres to provide basic eye care services.
Salako also disclosed that more than 1.5 million pairs of reading spectacles had been distributed to Nigerians in the 16 states under the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria (ESCIN), also known as Jajibola 2.0.
He noted that preparations were already at an advanced stage to expand the initiative to 10 additional states.
The Minister said the government had also intensified efforts to protect children’s vision, with more than 1.5 million school-age children screened for visual problems under the School Eye Health Programme.
He added that four additional vision centres were being established in secondary healthcare facilities in Enugu, Edo, Sokoto and Nasarawa States to strengthen referral systems and bring eye care services closer to Nigerians.
“Eye health is not an isolated intervention; it is an integral part of a resilient health system and a critical component of our journey towards Universal Health Coverage,” Salako said.
He noted that the planned 25,000 free cataract surgeries under the Renewed Hope Health Connect initiative would help restore sight, independence and productivity to thousands of Nigerians.
Salako assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would continue to collaborate with state governments, development partners, professional associations and the private sector to expand equitable access to quality eye care.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s growing role in global eye health, noting that the country would co-host the first-ever Global Summit for Eye Health scheduled for November 2 in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Minister enjoined Nigerians to take personal responsibility for their eye health by undergoing regular eye examinations, seeking early treatment for vision problems and adopting healthy practices that protect eyesight.
In her welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. represented by Dr. Oteri Okolo, said eye health was fundamental to human dignity, educational attainment, economic productivity and individual independence.
She noted that Nigeria had recorded significant progress in the eye health sector over the past decade through improved policy coordination, multisectoral collaboration and strategic partnerships.
She cited the development of Nigeria’s first Comprehensive National Eye Health Policy, ratified by all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as the National Strategic Eye Health Plan 2024–2028 and the establishment of national and state eye health coordination structures.
Meanwhile, development partners and stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting inclusive and accessible eye care as Nigeria marked World Sight Day 2026.
The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Sightsavers Nigeria, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), CBM International, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Peek Vision and Helen Keller International called for increased investment in prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation and accessible eye health services.
The Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan, stressed the need to place persons with disabilities at the centre of eye health policies and programmes, citing inaccessible facilities, communication barriers and inadequate consideration of their specific needs as continuing challenges.
Other partners called for equitable and inclusive eye care, particularly for children, women, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
CHAI emphasised the importance of integrating eye care into the primary healthcare system, while Peek Vision highlighted the role of technology, screening and quality data in connecting patients to appropriate care.
OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation called for sustainable partnerships, innovation and a lifelong approach to vision care.
The partners commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme for their leadership and pledged continued collaboration to expand affordable, inclusive and quality eye care across Nigeria.
For a better society
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