Abuja:The Federal Government has urged the private sector to invest in the local production of optical lenses, spectacle frames, eye drops, and other essential eye care products to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imports. This call to action was made by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, during a Public-Private Sector Roundtable on Eye Health in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Salako emphasized the need for domestic manufacturing to make eye care products more affordable and generate employment. He highlighted that Nigeria imports over 90% of its basic optical consumables and stated that the country’s eye care strategy aims to show that vision is crucial not only for health but also as a driver of economic productivity.
Dr. Salako pointed out that 24 million Nigerians are living with vision loss, most of which is due to preventable or treatable conditions such as digital eye strain, cataracts, glaucoma, and uncorrected refractive errors. He noted that the government is expanding access to eye care through initiatives like the JigiBola 2.0 program, which has provided over two million free screenings and 1.5 million free spectacles. The program plans to reach more than one million additional Nigerians in 10 more states.
The Federal Government has also set a target to provide 25,000 free cataract surgeries by 2027 as part of the Renewed Hope Health Connect initiative. Dr. Oteri Okolo, National Coordinator of the National Eye, Ear, and Sensory Functions Health Programme, emphasized integrating eye care into the primary healthcare system to reach rural communities where many at risk of vision loss reside.
Mrs. Yemisi Edun, Managing Director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), highlighted the bank’s partnership with the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, which has provided free eye care to over 400,000 Nigerians since 2009. She stressed the importance of sustainable funding and the need for eye care interventions to extend beyond isolated efforts.
Shravan Kumar, CEO of the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, and Prof. Joy Shuaibu, Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, both advocated for strong partnerships to expand access to quality eye care. They noted that a significant percentage of blindness in Nigeria is avoidable and can be addressed with improved access to eye care services.