Eye health now a National priority

BY ABIEMWENSE MORU

Undoubtedly, eye health is pivotal to the web of human activities; hence, it deserves serious attention.

At 63, Justina Nwankwo, a seamstress, had an experience that underpins the importance of eye health.

Her vision had grown cloudy; needles slipped through her fingers and work stopped; she thought her tailoring days were over until a free cataract surgery changed everything.

After receiving care at Optiviva Eye and Opticals in Owerri, Nwankwo resumed her craft.

“I could not thread a needle before; now, I teach young girls tailoring again,” she said.

As Nigeria joins the global community to mark World Sight Day 2025, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has declared good eyesight a national asset, vital for productivity, safety, and well-being.

Speaking in Dutse, Jigawa, NOA Director, Malam Ahmad Ibrahim, through the Head of Media, Sarah Ogodo, urged Nigerians to take proactive steps to protect and prioritise their eye health.

“Good eyesight plays a critical role in ensuring safety and productivity. It affects how we learn, work, and live.”

He said that millions of Nigerians suffered from treatable eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, refractive errors, and diabetic retinopathy, many of which go undiagnosed due to low awareness and delayed screening.

The NOA director cautioned that late treatment often resulted in permanent blindness. “Early detection through routine checkups could drastically reduce the burden of vision loss in both urban and rural areas.”

Ibrahim recommended a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables containing Vitamin A and lutein, nutrients essential for maintaining strong vision and preventing common degenerative eye conditions among all age groups.

He further advised reducing screen time, using proper lighting, and conducting regular vision screenings, particularly for children and adults with symptoms or a family history of eye conditions.

In a major boost to global eye care efforts, Sightsavers and Bloomberg Philanthropies unveiled a 75 million dollars Vision Initiative targeting untreated visual impairments in low and middle-income countries, including Nigeria.

The initiative, which was unveiled in Abuja, focuses on scaling up screenings, distributing eyeglasses, and performing cataract surgeries to bridge the global eye care gap, particularly in vulnerable and underserved communities.

Prof. Joy Shuaibu, Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, said the two-year programme would train teachers and health workers to provide basic eye health services in schools and community health centres.

Shuaibu announced that 11.5 million people would be screened, 7 million eyeglasses distributed, and 250,000 cataract surgeries performed across six countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Bangladesh.

“Good eye health reduces inequities, gets more children in school, and keeps adults productive.

“This initiative addresses access challenges in remote areas,” she said.

Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, represented by Dr Olawole JimohSalawudeen, said that 84 per cent of Nigeria’s blindness cases were preventable through proper diagnosis and timely intervention.

“Improving access to quality eye care enhances education, productivity, and quality of life.

It also contributes to national development and longer life expectancy across all demographics,” he said.

Dr Oteri Okolo, National Coordinator of the Eye, Ear, and Sensory Functions Health Programme, said a newly signed government MoU reaffirmed Nigeria’s political will to strengthen national eye health services.

She cited the 2023 approval of Jigibola 2.0 by President Tinubu, aimed at boosting access to affordable eyeglasses and strengthening general eye care services across the federation.

Dr Emem Omokaro, Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, described vision loss among the elderly as a crisis threatening independence, dignity, and safety for Nigeria’s ageing population.

“When seniors lose vision, they often lose the ability to live independently.

“We must integrate health care with in- surance and social support for them to age meaningfully,” she added.

At the grassroots level, clinics like Optiviva Eye and Opticals in Owerri are bridging the gap. Free screenings began Oct. 2 and continued until Oct. 15 across underserved neighbourhoods.

Dr Osinachi Nwachukwu, Head Optometrist, Optiviva Eye and Opticals, said many Nigerians did not prioritise eye health until vision deteriorated.

“But something as simple as a test can prevent serious, sometimes irreversible, damage,” she warned.

She explained that eye checks have improved academic performance among schoolchildren and restored independence for elders suffering from cataracts, reinforcing the transformative power of timely vision care. Nwankwo’s story exemplifies this.

Once sidelined by cataracts, her restored sight has allowed her to rejoin her community, contribute economically, and pass on her skills to younger generations. In Kaduna, the National Eye Centre held public lectures and free screenings.

Dr Peter Jiya, Chair of its Medical Advisory Committee, said many eye diseases can be prevented or managed. He advised those with a family history of blindness to undergo annual screenings

“Anyone whose relatives lost vision should be extra careful. Don’t wait for symptoms to show,” he said.