First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has called for sustainable financing and public-private partnerships to reduce avoidable blindness and expand access to eye care in Nigeria. The Bank made the call at a roundtable in Abuja organised in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme, and the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF). The theme was “Gift of Sight: Mobilising Partnerships and Sustainable Funding Towards Transforming Eye Care in Nigeria.”
FCMB's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Yemisi Edun, said eye health deserves a place among Nigeria's national development priorities and should be viewed as an investment in human capital. Her speech was delivered on her behalf by the Divisional Head, Corporate Affairs, Diran Olojo. Edun's statement underscores the importance of eye care in the country's development.
Since 2009, more than 400,000 people have benefited from free eye-care services provided by FCMB and TCF through the Priceless Gift of Sight initiative. Services include eye testing, optical services, surgeries, and disease management. This partnership has made a significant impact on the lives of many Nigerians.
FCMB has also committed ₦20 billion to financing private healthcare businesses in Nigeria, helping providers expand capacity, modernise services and improve care, including across the eye-care value chain. This investment aims to strengthen the healthcare system and improve access to quality care.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, commended the partnership and advocated financing mechanisms, including blended finance, social impact bonds and corporate co-funding, to expand access to eye care. Salako's endorsement highlights the government's support for innovative financing solutions.
The National Coordinator of the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme, Oteri Okolo, said vision impairment deepens inequality and described restoring sight as a cost-effective development intervention. Okolo's statement emphasizes the importance of addressing vision impairment to promote equality and development.
TCF Chief Executive Officer Shravan Kasam highlighted the value of combining technical expertise, private-sector resources and community-level delivery to tackle avoidable blindness. Kasam's comment underscores the importance of collaboration in addressing eye care challenges.
Key points
- FCMB calls for sustainable financing and partnerships to reduce avoidable blindness and expand access to eye care in Nigeria.
- The Bank has committed ₦20 billion to financing private healthcare businesses in Nigeria.
- Over 400,000 people have benefited from free eye-care services provided by FCMB and TCF since 2009.
