More than 4.24 million Nigerians are currently living with blindness or some form of visual impairment, largely due to conditions that could be treated or entirely prevented, according to international NGO, Sightsavers.
Speaking in Kano on Tuesday during the second day of a capacity-building workshop for journalists from the North-West region, Ms. Esther Bature, the group’s Advocacy Coordinator, presented the alarming statistics on behalf of Country Director, Prof. Joy Shuaibu.
“Millions of Nigerians are losing their sight to cataracts, glaucoma, and uncorrected refractive errors—conditions that can often be treated if diagnosed early,” Bature stated.
Despite the urgency, access to eye care in Nigeria remains critically low. According to Bature, only 4.4% of Nigerians receive necessary eye health services— a stark contrast to the 38% coverage rate seen in many middle-income countries.
Sightsavers, which has been active in Nigeria for more than five decades, is calling for stronger collaboration between media professionals, the government, and stakeholders to spotlight health challenges, disability inclusion, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
At the workshop, Bature introduced the ‘4Ps Approach’ — Preserve, Prioritise, Prevent, and Protect — as a strategic framework for addressing eye health challenges. She emphasized the importance of bridging the service gap between urban tertiary institutions and underserved rural areas.
She also called for inclusive policies that focus on women, children, and people with disabilities, urging greater government investment and public awareness.
Sightsavers reiterated its continued commitment to working with national partners to champion both disability inclusion and improved access to eye health services across Nigeria.
