By Becky Momodu
The Federal Government has trained more than 3,000 healthcare workers across 16 states and activated over 1,400 primary healthcare centres to provide basic eye care services.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2026 World Sight Day, themed “Love Your Eyes,” with the national sub-theme, “Protect Your Vision, See Clearly, Live Fully.”
Salako, who was represented by the Director, E-Health Division, Dr Doris Afam Aneke, said the interventions were designed to strengthen primary eye care and improve access to services, particularly for Nigerians in underserved communities.
He said the training of healthcare workers and activation of primary healthcare centres formed part of broader efforts by the Federal Government and its partners to build a stronger eye health system.
According to him, bringing primary eye care services closer to communities would improve early detection and treatment of eye conditions while strengthening referral pathways for patients requiring specialised care.
The Minister said the government considered eye health a public health and development priority because vision impairment could affect education, productivity, independence and overall quality of life.
“Eye health is not an isolated intervention; it is an integral part of a resilient health system and a critical component of our journey towards Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
Salako said the Federal Government would continue collaborating with state governments, development partners, professional associations and the private sector to expand access to quality and equitable eye care nationwide.
He urged Nigerians to undergo regular eye examinations and seek medical attention early whenever they experience vision problems, stressing that preventing avoidable blindness required collective action.
In her welcome remarks at the commemoration, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. mni, represented by Dr. Oteri Okolo said eye health remains fundamental to human dignity, educational attainment, economic productivity and individual independence, stressing that protecting the sight of Nigerians is critical to national development.
She noted that Nigeria’s eye health sector has recorded significant progress over the past decade through stronger policy governance, multisectoral collaboration and strategic partnerships, citing the development and dissemination of Nigeria’s first Comprehensive National Eye Health Policy, ratified by all 36 states and the FCT, as well as the National Strategic Eye Health Plan 2024–2028, alongside the establishment of state and national eye health coordination structures.
The Permanent Secretary also commended professional bodies, development partners and implementing organisations for their sustained contributions to strengthening eye care services across the country.Partners Reaffirm Commitment to Inclusive Eye Care as Nigeria Marks World Sight Day 2026
Partners including the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Sightsavers Nigeria, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), CBM International, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Peek Vision and Helen Keller International, called for greater investment in prevention, early detection, timely treatment, rehabilitation and accessible eye health services, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations.
The Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan, particularly emphasised the need to place persons with disabilities at the centre of eye health policies and interventions, noting that inaccessible facilities, communication barriers and inadequate consideration of specific needs continue to limit access to healthcare.
Sightsavers Nigeria, CBM International and Helen Keller International similarly urged stakeholders to ensure that eye care services are equitable, inclusive and accessible to all, particularly children, women, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
The Clinton Health Access Initiative highlighted the importance of integrating eye care into the Primary Healthcare System, noting its collaboration with the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme to bring primary eye care closer to communities and expand access to reading glasses.
Peek Vision also underscored the role of technology, screening and quality data in connecting people to care, while OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation called for sustainable partnerships, innovation and a lifelong continuum of vision care.
The partners commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme for their leadership in advancing eye health in Nigeria and called for sustained collaboration, and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening access to affordable, inclusive and quality eye care.
World Sight Day is observed annually on the second Thursday of October.
