FG Rallies Stakeholders’ Support to Transform Eye Health In Nigeria

By Toffa Momoh, Abuja

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming eye health in Nigeria by strengthening leadership and fostering strategic partnerships across all sectors.

At the 4th National Eye Health Coordination Meeting held in Abuja, the Director of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Paul Ntadom, delivered a stirring keynote address that called for bold, inclusive action to tackle preventable blindness and visual impairment.

Dr Ntadom stated that leadership is not just about position; but about vision, action, and impact, calling for collaboration across government, NGOs, the private sector, and communities to build a resilient and accessible eye care system.

The meeting which brought together stakeholders from all 36 states, Civil Society Groups, and International Partners including Sightsavers, VisionSpring, CBM International, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative is aimed at charting a unified course for equitable, data-driven eye care nationwide.

Director and National Coordinator of the National Eye Health Programme (NEHP), Dr Okolo Oteri, declared the meeting “a movement, stressing that integrated, patient-centred services must be accessible across the life course and in every part of the country.

From the field, powerful stories emerged. Gombe State’s Desk Officer, Dr Sam Bodawa, shared how the NEHP has transformed access to care in his state, with over 230 health workers trained and 77 primary facilities now offering basic eye care.

Sightsavers’ Dr Joshua Ibenu praised the growing collaboration and integration of eye health into broader sensory and public health strategies. “It’s heartening to see this level of synergy. The foundation is strong,” he noted.

As discussions continue into day two, the focus remains on delivering real change—through better data, stronger policy enforcement, and expanded access at the grassroots.