FG targets 5m free spectacles, 25,000 cataract surgeries by 2027
By Chioma Obinna
The Federal Government on Friday announced plans to provide at least five million free pairs of spectacles and conduct 25,000 free cataract surgeries for Nigerians by the end of 2027 as part of efforts to expand access to eye care nationwide.
The initiative, to be implemented under the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria, Jigi-Bola 2.0, and the Renewed Hope Health Connect programme, is aimed at reducing the burden of avoidable visual impairment and blindness, particularly among vulnerable populations.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this yesterday 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 in Abuja.
Salako, who said the Federal Government considers eye health a major public health and development priority, noted that preventable visual impairment continues to affect the productivity, independence and quality of life of millions of Nigerians.
He described Jigi-Bola 2.0 as a flagship intervention of the administration designed to take eye care services closer to communities.
According to him, the programme has already screened nearly two million Nigerians and provided more than 1.3 million people with free reading glasses, with about 66 per cent of beneficiaries receiving spectacles for the first time.
“The Jigi-Bola 2.0 programme is an iconic mobile eye care initiative that stands as a testament to Mr. President’s determination to reduce the heavy burden of eye problems in Nigeria by reaching vulnerable populations right where they live,” Salako said.
He said the expansion of the programme was part of the implementation of the National Eye Health Strategic Development Plan, 2024-2028, which seeks to strengthen integrated eye care services across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare levels.
As part of the reforms, the Minister said the Ministry had launched the Nigeria Glaucoma Guidelines and Toolkit to standardise the diagnosis, treatment and referral of glaucoma patients nationwide.
He disclosed that ophthalmologists from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had been trained to cascade the guidelines, while more than 2,220 primary healthcare workers in 16 states had been equipped to conduct vision screening and referrals under Jigi-Bola 2.0.
Salako said the measures were aimed at improving early detection of eye conditions and ensuring that patients requiring specialised care are referred promptly.
He commended optometrists for their contribution to community eye health, describing them as indispensable partners in the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment.
The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s commitment to working with the Nigerian Optometric Association and other stakeholders to expand access to quality vision services and advance universal eye health coverage in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the government would continue to strengthen community-based eye care and expand services to underserved populations across the country.