…As Salako rallies African optometrists to tackle blindness
The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to provide five million free pairs of spectacles and carry out 25,000 free cataract surgeries across the country by the end of 2027 as part of efforts to eliminate preventable blindness and improve eye care services.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Thursday while declaring open the 49th Annual National Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) and the African Council of Optometry (AFCO) Annual General Meeting.
Salako said the Tinubu administration has placed eye health high on its healthcare agenda, stressing that millions of Nigerians suffer avoidable visual impairment that affects productivity, education and quality of life.
According to him, the Federal Government is implementing the National Eye Health Strategic Development Plan (2024–2028) to integrate eye care into primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare systems across the country.
He said the government had also launched the Nigeria Glaucoma Guidelines and Toolkit to standardise diagnosis, treatment and referral of glaucoma cases nationwide, adding that ophthalmologists from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had been trained to cascade the programme.
The minister revealed that through the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative, otherwise known as Jigi-Bola 2.0, more than 2,220 Primary Healthcare workers across 16 states have been trained and equipped to conduct vision screening and refer patients for specialist care.
He said the mobile eye care initiative had already screened nearly two million Nigerians, while over 1.3 million people had received free reading glasses.
“About 66 per cent of the beneficiaries received their first-ever pair of spectacles through the initiative,” he said.
Salako disclosed that the programme was being expanded under the Renewed Hope Health Connect initiative to deliver at least five million free spectacles and 25,000 free cataract surgeries before the end of 2027.
He described investment in eye care as a smart economic decision, citing studies showing that every one dollar invested in eye care could generate returns of between 28 and 36 dollars through improved productivity, better educational outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
The minister noted that mobile clinics deployed under the Jigi-Bola programme had broken the barriers of cost and distance by taking eye care services directly to vulnerable and underserved communities.
He praised Nigerian optometrists for serving as the frontline of community eye health, saying they play a critical role in early detection, treatment and referral of patients.
“Government initiatives like Jigi-Bola are only as strong as the human capital behind them. Optometrists remain the frontline of defence for community eye health. We value your sacrifices, your research and your commitment, especially in underserved communities,” he said.
Salako assured the Nigerian Optometric Association of the ministry’s readiness to deepen collaboration with the profession by integrating community eye care programmes into the nation’s healthcare system.
He called for greater investment in eye care, research and innovation across Africa, stressing that improving access to quality eye health services would promote social inclusion, boost productivity and reduce the burden of blindness on families and the economy.
The minister also congratulated the Nigerian Optometric Association for facilitating the relocation of the headquarters of the African Council of Optometry to Nigeria and for producing the President-elect of the continental body.
He urged optometrists to continue mentoring younger professionals and working closely with government to build a stronger and healthier nation before declaring the conference officially open.
