As the world marks World Glaucoma Week 2025, Nigeria joins the global effort to raise awareness about this silent but devastating eye disease.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, often progressing unnoticed until significant vision loss occurs. According to the Nigerian Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey (2005-2007), over 16.7 per cent of blindness cases in the country were due to glaucoma.
This statistic highlights the urgent need for early detection and management, especially as studies show that people of African descent experience more severe forms of the disease at an earlier age.
Speaking during a ministerial press briefing in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, emphasised the importance of regular eye check-ups in combating glaucoma. He noted that while the disease is irreversible, early detection and proper management can preserve vision and improve patients‘ quality of life.
With the theme “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World: See the Future Clearly,” the minister reaffirmed the federal government‘s commitment to fighting glaucoma through awareness campaigns, screening programmes, and improved access to treatment.
He said the ministry has taken significant steps to address the glaucoma burden in the country, including the National Glaucoma Screening and Treatment Guidelines, developed to provide standardised clinical and programmatic guidance for eye health professionals.
This document also promotes patient support groups, which play a crucial role in improving treatment adherence and social support for individuals living with glaucoma, he added.
To ensure widespread implementation, ophthalmologists from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were trained on the guidelines, Dr Salako revealed, adding that a review meeting in January 2025 identified gaps in implementation, leading to strategic adjustments to improve service delivery.
According to him, the Eye News United Kingdom has acknowledged Nigeria’s efforts, stating that these interventions could significantly impact glaucoma management across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Beyond glaucoma, Dr Salako said the government was also addressing broader eye health issues through the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria (ESCIN), popularly known as JigiBola 2.0. The initiative, launched in 2023, aims to provide free vision screening and distribute five million pairs of reading glasses over three years.bOver 100,000 Nigerians have already been screened, and more than 80,000 spectacles have been dispensed, he explained.
Also, he said so far, over 3,000 PHC workers across 15 states have been trained to manage simple eye conditions, provide first aid, and educate communities on eye health.
“The integration of PEC into PHC has the potential to transform Nigeria’s eye care system. Rather than waiting for patients to reach urban tertiary hospitals, we are bringing essential eye care closer to the people,“ he stated.
The minister has urged researchers and innovators to leverage technology and artificial intelligence to develop early detection methods and more effective treatment options for glaucoma.
With sustained efforts from the government, health professionals, and international partners, a future where every Nigerian can see clearly is feasible.
