Abuja: The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to preventing avoidable blindness and strengthening inclusive eye health services across Nigeria. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, stated this during the launch of SightQuest Nigeria, a 10-year eye health program by the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) International.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the program will initially be implemented in five states and later expanded to 14 states, aligning with the government’s objective of achieving universal health coverage. Dr. Salako highlighted that the prevalence of blindness in Nigeria stands at 0.78 percent, with approximately 84 percent of cases arising from treatable or preventable conditions. These conditions include cataract, glaucoma, refractive errors, corneal opacities, trachoma, onchocerciasis, and emerging conditions like diabetic retinopathy.
Dr. Salako emphasized that lack of awareness and poor access to essential eye care services significantly contribute to visual impairment, often leading Nigerians to seek unorthodox treatments that result in severe complications. He noted that vision impairment impedes individuals’ daily activities, thereby affecting their productivity and contribution to national economic growth. He pointed out that vision loss costs the global economy, including Nigeria, about 411 billion dollars annually.
Studies cited by the minister indicate that every dollar invested in cost-effective eye care interventions yields a return of 28 dollars. The Federal Government’s dedication to eye health is evident in key policy frameworks such as the National Eye Health Policy adopted in 2019 and the National Eye Health Strategic Development Plan (2024-2028), currently being implemented nationwide. These policies align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and provide a roadmap for delivering eye care services to all Nigerians.
Furthermore, Dr. Salako revealed that President Tinubu had approved the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria (ESCIN), also known as JigiBola 2.0, with implementation underway in 15 states. This initiative aims to distribute five million free reading glasses over four years while integrating primary eye care into primary health care services. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is also set to provide at least 25,000 free cataract surgeries by the end of 2027.
The minister commended CBM International and its donors for supporting government efforts to improve access to cataract surgery, quality spectacles, eye health infrastructure, and human resource capacity. He added that the SightQuest Nigeria Programme would advance the country’s progress toward meeting global eye health and disability inclusion targets by 2030.
Dr. Salako reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to health sector reforms under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, urging stakeholders to support their full implementation. He noted that global institutions such as the World Health Organization, World Bank, and Africa CDC had acknowledged Nigeria’s health reform efforts, but stressed the need for sustained collaboration to achieve system-wide impact.