FG to Provide 25,000 Free Cataract Surgeries by 2027
The Federal Government has set a target of performing 25,000 free cataract surgeries by the end of 2027, as part of a renewed drive to reduce avoidable blindness and make quality eye care more accessible to Nigerians.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, announced the target in Abuja during activities marking the 2026 World Sight Day.
The event was held under the theme “Love Your Eyes,” with Nigeria adopting “Protect Your Vision, See Clearly, Live Fully” as its national sub-theme.
Represented by the Director, E-Health Division, Dr. Doris Afam Aneke, the Minister said the Federal Government was treating eye health as a major public health and development priority because poor vision affects learning, productivity, independence and quality of life.
Salako said government had already expanded primary eye care through the training of more than 3,000 healthcare workers across 16 states and the activation of over 1,400 primary healthcare centres to deliver eye health services.
He disclosed that more than 1.5 million pairs of reading glasses had also been distributed across the 16 states under the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria (ESCIN), popularly known as Jajibola 2.0.
According to him, the initiative is being prepared for expansion to 10 more states.
The Federal Government, he added, has screened more than 1.5 million school-age children for visual problems through the School Eye Health Programme.
Four additional vision centres are also being established in secondary healthcare facilities in Enugu, Edo, Sokoto and Nasarawa States, a move he said would improve referral pathways and bring appropriate eye care closer to 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,” Salako said.
He said the 25,000 cataract surgeries planned under the Renewed Hope Health Connect initiative would restore sight and improve the independence and productivity of thousands of beneficiaries.
The Minister urged Nigerians to undergo regular eye examinations and seek early medical attention whenever they experience vision problems.
He also said Nigeria was assuming a stronger role in global eye health, pointing to the country’s co-hosting of the first-ever Global Summit for Eye Health, scheduled for November 2 in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. mni, represented by Dr. Oteri Okolo, said protecting Nigerians’ eyesight was essential to national development.
She highlighted progress recorded in the sector, including the development of the country’s first Comprehensive National Eye Health Policy, which has been ratified by all 36 states and the FCT.
She also cited the National Strategic Eye Health Plan 2024–2028 and the establishment of national and state eye health coordination structures as major milestones.
Meanwhile, eye health partners have called for stronger investment in inclusive and accessible eye care, particularly for vulnerable populations.
The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Sightsavers Nigeria, Clinton Health Access Initiative, CBM International, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Peek Vision and Helen Keller International reaffirmed their commitment to improving eye health services nationwide.
NCPWD Executive Secretary, Chief Ayuba Burki Gufwan, called for persons with disabilities to be fully incorporated into eye health policies and programmes.
He identified inaccessible healthcare facilities, communication barriers and inadequate attention to the specific needs of persons with disabilities as major obstacles to equitable healthcare access.
Other partners stressed the need for stronger prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation services, particularly for children, women, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
CHAI advocated greater integration of eye care into Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, while Peek Vision emphasised technology, screening and reliable data as tools for linking patients to appropriate treatment.
OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation called for sustainable partnerships and innovation to ensure Nigerians have access to vision care throughout their lives.
The partners commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme for their efforts to strengthen eye health in Nigeria and pledged continued support for affordable, inclusive and quality eye care.
