By Mercy Gadia Adi
Nigeria has called for increased global investment in eye health, warning that blindness and visual impairment are not only public health challenges but also economic burdens that must be addressed.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call on Wednesday at a high-level event, “The Value of Vision: The Case for Investment,” held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Dr. Salako, who co-hosted the event on behalf of Nigeria, said millions across the world suffer from preventable blindness and visual impairment, conditions that reduce productivity, worsen inequality, and slow economic growth.
Quoting global studies, he stressed that every $1 invested in eye health generates between $28 and $36 in socio-economic benefits, with gains in education, productivity, reduced healthcare costs, and social inclusion.
Highlighting Nigeria’s domestic initiatives, the minister outlined key interventions, including the establishment of a National Eye Health Programme with state-level desks, the development of a five-year National Eye Health Policy and Strategic Plan (2024–2028), and the rollout of the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative (ESCIN–Jigi Bola 2.0).
Under Jigi Bola 2.0, nearly 1.5 million Nigerians have been screened, while over 1 million received free reading glasses, 66 percent of them for the first time. The programme, aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, targets the distribution of 5 million spectacles and 25,000 free cataract surgeries by 2027.
In addition, more than 2,200 primary healthcare workers have been trained to provide basic eye care services, strengthening integration of vision health into Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“When we invest in vision health, we not only prevent blindness and enhance dignity but also detect other health conditions that strain communities,” Salako said, urging world leaders to scale up funding and partnerships for sustainable eye care systems.
He also commended the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and development partners for supporting Nigeria’s progress in expanding access to affordable eye care.