FG Launches First National Eye Health Policy

The federal government introduced the first National Eye Health Policy in Abuja on Thursday as part of its efforts to improve access to eye care services for Nigerians.
This is Nigeria’s first complete National Eye Health Policy, which expands existing eye health services and ensures that no one is left behind through initiatives that ensure equitable access to high-quality eye care.
According to sources, the States and the Federal Capital Territory endorsed this policy at the National Council on Health’s 64th meeting.
It was also expected that with this announcement, state-by-state adoption of the policy would begin.
At the launch on Thursday, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunimbe Mamora reiterated the importance of vision to the socio-economic development of the people.
Mamora stated that Nigeria with other member states at the United Nations General Assembly recently adopted the vision for everyone which formed accelerating action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals resolution, which is aimed at committing the international community to eye health for the 1.1 billion people living with preventable sight loss by 2030.
The Minister further explained that it has been established that the avoidance of blindness is key to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 1; no poverty) as vision loss alone costs the globe a whopping $411 billion annually.
He said, “Following successful cataract surgery, the income bracket of 46 per cent of households moved up the economic ladder thus contributing to eliminating the zero hunger in SDG 1.
“This document directs the policy thrusts of the government and shows how it intends to ensure that Nigerians have a country where no one is needlessly blind.
“Thus enshrining this document as part of our governance structure ensures that the majority of Nigerians have the potential to reduce the burden of blindness which would ultimately lead to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product and further enhance the economic growth of this great nation.
“The document further puts in place a framework for best practices and enhances competence-based leadership in all strata of eye health encompassing optical, optometric, medical and surgical ophthalmology as well as allied health services.
“It also aims at ensuring that there is patient-centered inclusive eye health where access to quality eye care at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of eye care without neglecting the rehabilitation of those who are already irreversibly blind.”