National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Federal Ministry of Health have launched an initiative to eliminate preventable blindness and promote sensory health in the country.
To set the ball rolling, the NOA, last week, welcomed a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Health’s Department of Public Health and Social Care.
The visiting team, led by the National Eye Health Programme (NEHP), was received at the NOA headquarters in Abuja to formalise plans for a robust partnership focused on public health education and eye care awareness.
NOA’s Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by Director of Special Duties, David Akojim, underscored the agency’s wide grassroots reach.
With 818 local offices across the federation, supported by community radio stations and television platforms, NOA has a powerful communication infrastructure capable of delivering health messages directly to underserved populations.
He noted, adding: “This underscores the fact that public health cannot be achieved without public awareness and understanding. The partnership is set to roll out a nationwide series of health education campaigns, targeted state-level outreach events, and audience research activities to guide messaging. These will centre on preventing blindness, encouraging healthy eye care habits, and increasing public understanding of sensory health.”
The initiative comes at a time when the country continues to grapple with high rates of visual impairment.
According to the National Eye Health Policy, the national blindness prevalence stands at 0.78 per cent, with a staggering 84 per cent of these cases being preventable. Leading causes include cataracts and glaucoma, both treatable if detected early.
During the meeting, Director and National Coordinator of the National Eye Health Programme at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Okolo Oteri, stressed the importance of timely public education.
She cited the remarkable results from recent campaigns like the 2023 Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative, which provided free spectacles to residents across 15 states, as proof of timeous intervention.
To commemorate the strategic meeting, NOA presented the delegation with a plaque, highlighting its flagship National Values Charter, a symbol of national unity and collective action. In return, the ministry gifted “Love Your Eyes” lapel pins to NOA staff, underscoring their shared mission to promote eye health in every Nigerian community.
While the exchange of gifts marked a ceremonial gesture, the meeting itself served as a concrete step towards implementing the National Eye Health Strategic Development Plan (2024–2028).
The blueprint prioritises integrating eye care into Nigeria’s primary health systems, emphasising promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative approaches to reduce avoidable blindness.
