World Sight Day: FG Targets 25,000 Free Cataract Surgeries By 2027

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Thursday while commemorating the 2026 World Sight Day, themed, “Love Your Eyes,” with the national sub-theme, “Protect Your Vision, See Clearly, Live Fully,” in Abuja.

Represented by the director, E-Health Division, Dr Doris Afam Aneke, the minister said the planned surgeries under the Renewed Hope Health Connect initiative would restore sight, independence and productivity to thousands of Nigerians.

He said the federal government considers eye health a public health and development priority because of its impact on education, productivity, independence and quality of life.

Salako said government, in collaboration with partners, had trained more than 3,000 healthcare workers across 16 states and activated over 1,400 primary healthcare centres to provide primary eye care services.

He also disclosed that more than 1.5 million pairs of reading spectacles had been distributed to Nigerians in the 16 states under the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria (ESCIN), also known as Jajibola 2.0.

According to him, preparations are already advanced to extend the initiative to 10 additional states.

The minister further said more than 1.5 million school-age children had been screened for visual problems under the School Eye Health Programme, while four additional vision centres were being established in secondary healthcare facilities in Enugu, Edo, Sokoto and Nasarawa states.

He said the interventions were aimed at strengthening the continuum of eye care, improving referral pathways and ensuring that Nigerians could access appropriate services closer to their communities.

“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.

“No child should be prevented from learning because of an undiagnosed vision problem, and no Nigerian should live with avoidable blindness simply because treatment is beyond reach,” he said.

Salako said the government would continue to work with state governments, development partners, professional associations and the private sector to expand equitable access to quality eye care.

He also noted Nigeria’s growing role in global eye health, including the country’s co-hosting of the first-ever Global Summit for Eye Health, scheduled for November 2 in Antigua and Barbuda.

Earlier, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, represented by Dr Oteri Okolo, said eye health remained fundamental to human dignity, educational attainment, economic productivity and individual independence.

She said Nigeria’s eye health sector had recorded significant progress over the past decade through stronger policy governance, multisectoral collaboration and strategic partnerships.

Kachollom cited the development and dissemination of Nigeria’s first Comprehensive National Eye Health Policy, ratified by all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as the National Strategic Eye Health Plan 2024–2028.

Meanwhile, partners at the commemoration called for greater investment in prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation and accessible eye health services, particularly for vulnerable and underserved populations.

The executive secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan, urged government to place persons with disabilities at the centre of eye health policies and interventions.

He said inaccessible facilities, communication barriers and inadequate consideration of the specific needs of persons with disabilities continued to limit their access to healthcare.

Other partners, including Sightsavers Nigeria, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), CBM International, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Peek Vision and Helen Keller International, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening inclusive and affordable eye care services across Nigeria.

CHAI stressed the importance of integrating eye care into the primary healthcare system, while Peek Vision highlighted the role of technology, screening and quality data in connecting people to appropriate care.

The partners also called for sustainable partnerships and continued collaboration to ensure that eye care services reached children, women, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.