The Federal Government of Nigeria has made a commitment to provide five million pairs of ready-made reading spectacles and 25,000 fully subsidised cataract surgeries by 2027. This initiative aims to expand access to affordable eye care and eliminate avoidable vision loss among vulnerable populations. The announcement was made by the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, at the Global Summit for Eye Health in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda.
The Minister outlined additional targets, including integrating Primary Eye Care into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), training 15,000 primary healthcare workers, and increasing the active eye care workforce by 20 per cent. The goal is to improve Effective Cataract Surgical Coverage (eCSC) by 30 percentage points by 2030. These interventions are expected to benefit over 25 million vulnerable citizens, particularly women, older persons, and underserved rural populations.
Dr Salako emphasized that eye health is fundamental to human development, and avoidable vision loss affects not only individual health but also education, household welfare, personal safety, and national productivity. He recalled his participation in the JigiBola eye care initiative in Lagos State about 25 years ago, which has evolved into the national Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative, known as JigiBola 2.0.
Nigeria is also participating in the World Health Organisation’s Global Cataract Surgery Initiative, known as SEE 2045, to accelerate efforts towards eliminating cataract-related blindness. Dr Salako stressed that achieving the country’s eye health targets requires sustained domestic financing, stronger public-private partnerships, and collaboration with international development partners.
The Minister acknowledged the growing support of development and philanthropic partners at the summit, with approximately US$60 million in pledges towards assistive technology and 15 private-sector commitments valued at over US$468 million. He commended Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Tanzania, and China for their participation in advancing the global eye health agenda.
Dr Salako urged participating countries and partners to translate the commitments made at the summit into concrete national action. He emphasized that the ultimate measure of success would be the number of people whose sight is protected or restored through accessible, affordable, and sustainable eye care services.
The Federal Government's efforts to improve eye care services in Nigeria are part of a broader commitment to enhancing health outcomes under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration. The Minister's announcement demonstrates Nigeria's dedication to addressing avoidable vision loss and promoting eye health as a fundamental aspect of human development.
Key points
- Nigeria aims to distribute five million pairs of reading spectacles and provide 25,000 subsidised cataract surgeries by 2027.
- The initiative targets over 25 million vulnerable citizens, particularly women, older persons, and underserved rural populations.
- Nigeria is participating in the World Health Organisation’s Global Cataract Surgery Initiative, known as SEE 2045.
