…Targets 5m free spectacles, 25,000 cataract surgeries by 2027

The has announced plans to would leverage artificial intelligence (AI), tele-ophthalmology, digital screening tools and other emerging technologies to take quality eye care beyond tertiary hospitals and urban centres to primary healthcare facilities and underserved rural communities.

Government also disclosed it’s readiness to provide 5 million free pairs of spectacles and 25,000 cataract surgeries to Nigerians by the end of 2027, as part of renewed efforts to tackle preventable blindness and expand access to eye care across the country.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako who disclosed this at the 51st Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN) in Abuja, observed that the rapid transformation of healthcare through digital technology presents Nigeria with an opportunity to improve early diagnosis, strengthen referrals and reduce the burden of avoidable blindness.

“Digital transformation is no longer a futuristic vision; it is now an active and indispensable tool for expanding access, improving clinical outcomes and eliminating avoidable blindness across our nation,” he said.

The minister identified cataract, glaucoma, refractive errors and diabetic retinopathy among the major causes of visual impairment and preventable blindness in Nigeria, noting that geographical barriers, uneven distribution of healthcare workers and socioeconomic disparities continued to restrict access to specialised eye care.

He said technologies such as smartphone-based fundus cameras, remote screening, AI-enabled diagnostic algorithms and tele-ophthalmology could help transfer diagnostic capacity from specialist centres to primary healthcare facilities and rural communities.

Salako noted that the Ministry had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Peak Vision, a digital eye-health company, to deploy an artificial intelligence-powered rapid eye-screening device.

He said the initiative would strengthen school health programmes and the integration of eye care into primary healthcare, while generating data that could help government identify disease patterns, improve referrals and allocate resources more effectively.

The minister highlighted the role of digital health in the early detection of diseases, particularly diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, saying AI-powered systems could identify conditions before irreversible vision loss occurs.

He said the government was also working to strengthen routine eye-health data collection at facility level to support evidence-based decision-making.

On access to treatment, Salako said the government was expanding healthcare insurance coverage in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on essential eye-care services, particularly for vulnerable Nigerians.

He added that the government was implementing the National Eye Health Strategic Development Plan 2024–2028, while integrating basic eye screening, refractive services and referral pathways into primary healthcare.

The minister stated the government’s Jigibola 2.0 mobile eye-care initiative had already screened almost two million people and provided more than 1.3 million free reading glasses across the federation.

He observed that the programme was now being expanded under Renewed Hope Health Connect, with a target of distributing at least five million free spectacles and providing 25,000 free cataract surgeries by the end of 2027.

Salako also commended the partnership involving the Oluwolepe Foundation, the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria’s Faculty of Ophthalmology, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for delivering what he described as the first eye-surgery training simulation machine in West Africa.

He urged ophthalmologists and other eye-care professionals to work with government to develop affordable digital solutions suited to Nigeria’s low-resource and off-grid communities.

The minister further challenged the profession to train the next generation of ophthalmologists to combine conventional clinical and surgical skills with competence in digital health technologies, while ensuring that AI and other innovations are deployed ethically and equitably.

Also speaking at the conference, the President of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, Dr Gloria Ferife noted that an estimated 24 million Nigerians are living with sight loss, with about 84 per cent of the burden attributed to preventable or avoidable causes.

She stated that the scale of the problem required ophthalmologists and other members of the eye-care team including optometrists, ophthalmic nurses and opticians to strengthen collaboration in delivering services to Nigerians.

The OSN president said the conference theme was particularly relevant as artificial intelligence, tele-ophthalmology, digital imaging, electronic medical records, simulation-based training and data-driven research were rapidly transforming ophthalmic practice.

Ferife, however, warned that technological advancement must not come at the expense of ethics or the human connection between healthcare providers and patients.

“Technology should help us detect disease earlier, strengthen training, improve research, extend specialist care and ultimately preserve sight,” she said, stressing the need to address the digital divide, infrastructure constraints, affordability, data protection and the ethical use of emerging technologies.

Ferife urged practitioners to embrace innovation while ensuring that underserved, elderly and rural populations were not left behind.

According to her, “the future of ophthalmology must therefore be technologically advanced, yet it must remain deeply human.”

The OSN president expressed appreciation to the Federal and state governments, development partners and members of the society for their continued support for eye care in Nigeria.

She also called for stronger research and policy collaboration to generate reliable national eye-health data and establish appropriate ethical frameworks for the development and use of AI in clinical practice.

In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman, the House Committee on Health, Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji observed that emerging technologies offered significant opportunities to improve early detection, diagnosis, treatment and access to eye care.

Magaji noted that artificial intelligence, tele-ophthalmology, digital imaging, advanced diagnostics and other smart technologies were transforming healthcare delivery, but stressed that such innovations must be guided by ethics, patient privacy, informed consent and professional accountability.

He also raised concerns over the increasing use of smartphones, computers, tablets and other digital devices, noting that excessive screen exposure could contribute to digital eye strain, dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches and visual discomfort.

Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary, Health and Environment Services Secretariat, FCT Administration, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, who represented the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said the FCT Administration remained committed to strengthening eye-care services across the territory.

Fasawe said ophthalmology services were currently being provided in four FCT hospitals: Asokoro District Hospital, Wuse General Hospital, Kubwa General Hospital and Bwari General Hospital.

She disclosed that the FCT Minister had approved the establishment of a general comprehensive and subspecialty training centre at Karu General Hospital, with particular attention to ophthalmology and the development of specialised glaucoma surgery services.

According to her, eye surgeries performed in the FCT increased from 745 in 2021 to more than 1,200 in 2025.

“The increase represented more opportunities for residents to regain improved vision, independence, productivity and quality of life, the FCT ophthalmology residency programme had received full accreditation from both the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Surgeons”.

She said FCT residents had emerged as best candidates in Part One and Part Two examinations of both colleges, describing the achievement as a testament to the quality of training and commitment of ophthalmic specialists in the territory.

Fasawe also highlighted the growing capacity of FCT eye specialists, recounting how a patient who had planned to travel to the United Kingdom for treatment of high intraocular pressure was successfully treated by a Nigerian ophthalmologist.

She said the patient’s surgeon in the UK later acknowledged the quality of treatment provided by the Nigerian specialist, describing the development as evidence of the growing capacity of local eye-care professionals.

Fasawe commended teachers, residents, consultants and other stakeholders for their contributions to building capacity, strengthening specialist training and advancing eye care in the FCT.
She also commended the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria for its contribution to the advancement of eye care in Nigeria and pledged continued collaboration with the society and other stakeholders to promote innovation, research, professional development and access to quality eye-care services.