The Kogi State governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, represented by the state commissioner for Health, Dr Abdulazeez has commended Sightsavers Nigeria for its successful eye care surgeries for indigent Nigerians and for training about 453 health workers in the state.
The state governor has approved the release of the Blindness Prevention Fund in the state budget so that the state has access to quality eye care services.
He disclosed this yesterday at the ceremony to mark the end of the Sightsavers Kogi State Eye Care Programme project in Abuja.
He reiterated his support for the timely release of the blindness prevention vote in Kogi State’s approved budget, saying that they would also provide the retention and maintenance of the eye care Hilux donated by the International Society of the Blind to enhance the logistics of the eye care programme team.
“Noted that I won’t call it a closing ceremony but rather a transition ceremony of Sightsavers rendering eye health services to the people in the state. They have rendered diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to thousands of persons in the state. They have also helped in training health workers, nurses and doctors on how to give quality eye care to people.
“We are grateful for the support and resources provided by Sightsavers International which has enabled us to establish comprehensive eye care centres, train doctors and provide equipment and resources. We are committed to sustaining the achievements of this programme and ensuring that the people of Kogi State continue to have access to quality eye care services,” he added.
The country director of Sightsavers Nigeria, Dr. Joy Shu’aibu, said they have set up the state’s eye care committee, which will help to sustain the gains of the three-year partnership with the organisation.
Shu’aibu said, “We have examined an average of 14,000 people across the areas where we have worked. We have dispensed approximately 8,000 spectacles. We have refracted about 10,000 people, and we have offered life-changing cataract surgeries to several people in Kogi State and other related eyecare surgeries,” among others.
The five-year Kogi Eye Care Project has significantly improved access to eye health services and cataract surgeries for residents of Kogi State and the collaboration between Sightsavers Nigeria and the Kogi State Ministry of Health ran from June 2019 to June 2024.
“This partnership has resulted in the refurbishment of three state government hospitals, trained 453 health workers and, crucially, more than 1,299 cataract surgeries,” she said.
She said that cataract remained the leading cause of blindness globally, disproportionately affecting individuals in low-income regions.
She maintained that cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in Nigeria, affecting an estimated one million people.
Shu’aibu noted that Sightsavers Nigeria had been at the forefront of addressing this critical health issue, particularly through the Kogi Eye Care Project, which has brought substantial benefits to the local communities.
She added: “The Kogi Eye Care Project is a testament to what can be achieved through dedication and collaboration.
“We are proud of the impact we’ve made in reducing cataract-related blindness and improving the quality of life for many individuals in Kogi State.
“Experts in eye health have now been trained and eye care services integrated into regional health systems so the improvements ensure the eye health services in Kogi will continue to be delivered in a sustainable way.
“As Cataract Awareness Month comes to a close, Sightsavers Nigeria remains committed to continuing its efforts to address the burden of cataract-related blindness in Nigeria,” she said.
