•Eye Health Programme Officer at Sightsavers, Ms. Barbara Marok, during her presentation
An international non-governmental organisation, Sightsavers Nigeria, today revealed that over 4.25 million Nigerians are blind or visually impaired.
The organisation disclosed this during a media partners’ meeting held in Keffi, Nasarawa State, aimed at strengthening collaboration with journalists in promoting eye health awareness, the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases, among others.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, faces a growing eye health crisis that experts warn could worsen if access to care does not improve. Despite the high burden of visual impairment, only a small percentage of Nigerians receive adequate eye care services, reports The PUNCH.
Experts warn that the country loses billions of naira annually due to poor vision, as untreated eye conditions lead to reduced productivity, lower household income, and educational setbacks, particularly among working-age adults and schoolchildren.
Speaking at the event, the Eye Health Programme Officer at Sightsavers, Ms Barbara Marok, called for increased awareness and investment in eye health services, particularly in rural communities where access to eye care remains limited.
Marok said, “Over 4.25 million Nigerians are blind or visually impaired, many due to preventable or treatable conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and uncorrected refractive errors.
“Only 4.4 per cent of Nigerians currently access eye health care, compared to 38 per cent in middle-income countries.”
She noted that Nigeria loses billions of naira annually due to poor vision, which results in reduced productivity, lower income, and educational setbacks.
Also speaking, the Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager for NTDs and Safeguarding Lead at Sightsavers Nigeria, Ms Folake Aliu, noted that Nigeria bears 25 per cent of Africa’s Neglected Tropical Diseases’ burden.
Aliu explained that many causes of blindness in Nigeria are preventable, including cataracts, glaucoma, and uncorrected refractive errors.
She added that the organisation is currently tackling five of the most prevalent NTDs, namely: lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), river blindness (onchocerciasis), trachoma, intestinal worms, and schistosomiasis.
“As of 2024, Sightsavers has helped ensure that over 653.1 million people received treatment for NTDs.
“We have also supported 74 local government areas to reach the trachoma elimination threshold and provided 80 per cent of the national support for trachoma elimination in Nigeria,” she said.
However, she noted that challenges such as insecurity, weak government ownership, funding gaps, and ineffective programme implementation, among others, continue to hinder the elimination of NTDs in Nigeria.
The Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, Prof. Joy Shua’ibu, stated that the media engagement was designed to equip journalists with information that would help amplify messages in the fight against avoidable blindness.
Shua’ibu, who was represented by the Project Director for NTDs at Sightsavers, Mrs Anita Gwong, said the organisation’s interventions have positively impacted about 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
She urged the media to amplify issues around NTDs, encourage government ownership of health projects, close funding gaps, and advocate for the effective implementation of policies that promote access to healthcare and education for Persons with Disabilities.
Speaking on social inclusion, the Advocacy Coordinator at Sightsavers, Ms Esther Bature, emphasised that discrimination against PWDs continues to hinder their access to healthcare, education, and other essential services.
She highlighted that through inclusive initiatives such as the Support Mainstreaming Inclusion to All Learn Equally project, the Inclusive Family Planning Project, Inclusion Works II, and the Girls Educational Skills Partnership-SABI Woman programme, Sightsavers has continued to promote social inclusion and equality across Nigeria.
