The Federal Government has set a target of performing 25,000 free cataract surgeries by the end of 2027 as part of efforts to combat avoidable blindness and expand access to quality eye care across the country.
The initiative, being implemented under the Renewed Hope Health Connect programme and aligned with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), is expected to restore sight and improve the quality of life of thousands of Nigerians who cannot afford the cost of treatment.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this during the commemoration of the 2026 World Sight Day in Abuja, themed *“Love Your Eyes,”* with the national sub-theme, *“Protect Your Vision, See Clearly, Live Fully.”*
Salako, who was represented by the Director of the E-Health Division, Dr. Doris Afam Aneke, said the government considered eye health a public health and development priority because of its far-reaching implications for education, productivity, independence and overall well-being.
He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was strengthening eye care delivery under the NHSRII by integrating essential services into primary healthcare facilities, making treatment more accessible to people in underserved communities.
According to the minister, cataract remains a major cause of avoidable blindness, making the planned surgeries a critical intervention in the government’s drive to prevent vision loss and restore independence to affected Nigerians.
He stressed that no Nigerian should be condemned to live with preventable blindness because of financial constraints or the unavailability of treatment.
“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.
“No child should be prevented from learning because of an undiagnosed vision problem, and no Nigerian should live with avoidable blindness simply because treatment is beyond reach,” he said.
Salako also highlighted progress recorded through government interventions and partnerships, including the training of more than 3,000 health workers across 16 states and the activation of over 1,400 primary healthcare centres to provide basic eye care services.
He disclosed that more than 1.5 million pairs of reading spectacles had been distributed across 16 states under the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria, also known as Jajibola 2.0.
Preparations, he added, were at an advanced stage to extend the spectacle distribution programme to 10 additional states, further expanding access to affordable vision correction.
The minister said the School Eye Health Programme had also screened more than 1.5 million school-age children for visual problems, while four new vision centres were being established in secondary healthcare facilities in Enugu, Edo, Sokoto and Nasarawa states.
He explained that the interventions were designed to strengthen referral systems between different levels of healthcare and bring essential eye care services closer to communities.
The minister urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for protecting their sight through regular eye examinations, early presentation for treatment and healthy practices that reduce the risk of preventable vision problems.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s growing role in global eye health, including its co-hosting of the first-ever Global Summit for Eye Health scheduled for November 2 in Antigua and Barbuda.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom S., represented by the National Coordinator of the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme, Dr. Oteri Okolo, said Nigeria had recorded significant progress in developing policies and strategies to improve eye care delivery.
She cited the country’s first Comprehensive National Eye Health Policy, which has been ratified by all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as the National Strategic Eye Health Plan 2024–2028.
According to her, the policy frameworks provide a foundation for coordinated action to strengthen eye health services and improve access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.
Representatives of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Sightsavers Nigeria, Clinton Health Access Initiative, CBM International, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Peek Vision and Helen Keller International attended the event.
In a joint position, the participating organisations called for sustained investment in eye health, emphasising the need to strengthen prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation services.
They also urged stakeholders to ensure that eye care services were inclusive of persons with disabilities and accessible to children, women and underserved communities.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with state governments, development partners, professional associations and the private sector to ensure that all Nigerians can access quality eye care regardless of their location or ability to pay.
The announcement comes as the government seeks to strengthen primary healthcare and expand access to essential medical services, with the 25,000-surgery target expected to form a key part of its efforts to reduce the burden of avoidable blindness by the end of 2027.
