By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
The Federal Government has announced plans to integrate primary eye care into the national health system and distribute five million free reading glasses across the country to tackle avoidable blindness.
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the 2025 World Sight Day celebration themed “Love Your Eyes.” Represented by Dr. Jimoh Olawale Salaudeen, mni, Director of Hospital Services, Salako said the move will expand access to quality eye care, especially in underserved communities.
In a statement by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director and Head of Information, the initiative tagged Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria (Jigibola 2.0) aims to train 12 master trainers and 2,200 primary health workers across the six geopolitical zones. “By prioritizing eye health today, we are investing in a brighter, more prosperous tomorrow for Nigeria,” Salako said.
Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, mni, represented by Dr. Oteri Okolo Eme, urged Nigerians to embrace regular eye checks, noting that vision care is vital to universal health coverage and productivity. “The social and economic burden of vision impairment is enormous. We must act now to prevent avoidable blindness,” she added.
Eme, who coordinates the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme, said the ministry is collaborating with global partners to train personnel in 15 states, reaffirming government’s commitment to ensuring “no Nigerian is needlessly blind.”
