The Federal Government has announced plans to conduct 25,000 cataract surgeries and distribute about five million free eyeglasses nationwide by 2027, in a bid to expand access to quality eye care and reduce preventable blindness.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed this during a presentation titled “The Value of Vision: The Case for Investment.” He explained that the intervention would be implemented under the expansion of the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative (ESCIN–JigiBola 2.0).

According to him, the presidential initiative combines a philanthropic model, which provides subsidised spectacles, with a sustainability model that delivers affordable glasses to those in need.

Salako noted that over the past year, about 1.5 million people have been screened, with more than one million Nigerians receiving free reading glasses across 16 states. “In one year, close to 1.5 million people have been screened and over one million people have received free reading glasses, with about 66 per cent of beneficiaries getting their first-ever pair. The initiative is now being scaled up to deliver at least five million free spectacles and 25,000 cataract surgeries by 2027,” he said.

The minister added that the government is integrating primary eye care into the primary health system to guarantee equitable and sustainable access, particularly in underserved communities. Already, about 2,200 primary health workers have been trained to provide basic eye care services.

He stressed the importance of increasing investments in eye health, promoting research and development, and ensuring timely access to quality services. “When we invest in vision health, we create a brighter future for individuals, communities, and nations. We not only prevent blindness and enhance human dignity, but also establish mechanisms for the early detection of wider health problems that burden society,” he said.

Salako further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening community health systems, which he described as the backbone of Africa’s healthcare. He explained that Nigeria will expand training facilities, professionalise the role of Community Health Workers (CHWs), create career progression paths, and fully integrate them into the health system.

“By investing in CHWs, the country is investing in prevention, early detection, maternal and child health, and in stronger systems capable of withstanding emerging public health threats,” he added.