The Federal Government has reiterated its resolve to enhance eye health services across Nigeria, pledging stronger leadership, strategic partnerships, and expanded access to quality care, especially for underserved communities.
The assurance came on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of the 4th National Eye Health Coordination Meeting, which convened key stakeholders under the theme: ‘Strengthening Leadership, Strategic Collaboration, Partnership, and Progress Towards Improved Eye Health Outcomes in Nigeria’.
The meeting served as a platform for stakeholders to review progress, share innovations, and align on strategies aimed at achieving universal eye care access by 2030 in line with national and global targets.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, the Director of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare stressed that visionary and collaborative leadership remains central to strengthening eye health systems.
He noted that robust governance is essential for setting ambitious goals, mobilizing resources, and ensuring that quality services reach the most vulnerable.
“Addressing Nigeria’s eye health challenges requires multi-sectoral collaboration, from government agencies to private partners and community-level actors. Only through collective effort can we build an effective and inclusive system,” he said.
He further emphasized that meaningful progress must be driven by evidence and accountability, calling for integration of eye care into primary healthcare services, expanded professional training, and enhanced outreach to remote populations.
“Partnerships are the glue that binds progress,” he added, urging ongoing cooperation across sectors, including academia, NGOs, and the private sector.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Okolo Oteri, National Coordinator of the National Eye Health Programme (NEHP), described the meeting as timely for consolidating achievements and responding to persistent gaps.
She outlined key objectives such as capacity building, stakeholder engagement, research advancement, and policy innovation, saying, “We must adopt strategic, patient-centred approaches that ensure eye care is accessible throughout every stage of life.
“When vision is impaired, livelihoods suffer and national productivity declines”.
Dr. Oteri highlighted the strides made under Jigibola 2.0, also known as the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative which has trained primary healthcare workers in 15 states to deliver basic eye care at the grassroots level.
“This marks a major shift in access. Previously, rural dwellers had to travel to far-off secondary or tertiary hospitals. Today, care is reaching communities where over 70% of Nigerians reside,” she noted.
In his presentation, Dr. Sambo Dawa, an eye health officer from Gombe State, explained how the state, with support from NEHP and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, trained 12 senior professionals who subsequently equipped 231 health workers across 77 primary clinics.
“This expansion of capacity has brought diagnosis and referrals closer to the people,” he said.
Under the Jigibola initiative, according to Dawa, Gombe State also received 36,000 pairs of reading glasses, of which 31,000 have already been distributed to individuals aged 40 and above.
“Many who had lost the ability to read can now function better in their daily lives. The impact on quality of life has been profound,” Dr. Dawa added, urging other states to leverage the support and tools available through the programme.
Going forward, the participants are expected to return to their respective states equipped with new insights and practical frameworks to strengthen local systems.
Key focus areas include improved planning, data-driven decision-making, infrastructure development, and workforce training, all geared toward ensuring equitable eye care for every Nigerian, Dr. Oteri noted.
