Cynthia Ezegwu
An international non-governmental organisation, Sightsavers Nigeria, has revealed that more than 4.25 million Nigerians are blind or visually impaired, with most cases resulting from preventable or treatable conditions.
The organisation made this known during a media partners’ meeting held on Thursday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, aimed at strengthening collaboration with journalists in promoting eye health awareness and combating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
According to the Eye Health Programme Officer at Sightsavers, Ms Barbara Marok, only 4.4 per cent of Nigerians currently have access to eye health services, compared to 38 per cent in middle-income countries.
“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,” Marok said, calling for increased investment and awareness to improve access to eye care, especially in rural communities.
She noted that poor vision continues to cost Nigeria billions of naira annually through reduced productivity, lower household income, and educational setbacks among schoolchildren.
Also speaking, the Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager for NTDs and Safeguarding Lead at Sightsavers, Ms Folake Aliu, said Nigeria accounts for 25 per cent of Africa’s burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Aliu disclosed that Sightsavers is tackling five of the most prevalent NTDs in the country — 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 stated.
She, however, identified challenges such as insecurity, weak government ownership, funding gaps, and poor programme implementation as major barriers to eliminating NTDs in the country.
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The Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, Prof. Joy Shua’ibu, represented by the Project Director for NTDs, Mrs Anita Gwong, said the media engagement aimed to equip journalists with the information needed to amplify messages on the fight against avoidable blindness and promote inclusion.
Shua’ibu noted that Sightsavers’ interventions have positively impacted about 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population and urged the media to continue advocating for stronger government ownership of health programmes, improved funding, and better implementation of disability-inclusive policies.
On her part, the Advocacy Coordinator at Sightsavers, Ms Esther Bature, stressed the need to end discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), noting that such practices limit access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.
Bature said Sightsavers continues to drive social inclusion through programmes 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 initiative.