Sightsavers to combat blindness in four Northern states
Sightsavers International has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring essential eye care services are affordable and accessible to all Nigerians, particularly marginalised groups in four Northern states.
Country Director of Sightsavers in Nigeria, Dr. Joy Shuaibu, who spoke during the flag-off of the SeeClear Nigeria Inclusive Eye Health Care Services Delivery Meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, said the programme would be in four northern states to combat blindness and improve access to quality eye care services.
She said the initiative would cover Plateau, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna States.
According to her, it was aimed at ensuring that essential eye care services are affordable and accessible to all, particularly marginalised groups in the selected four northern states.
Shuaibu maintained that the organisation was committed to preventing avoidable blindness in Nigeria, adding that “no Nigerian would be allowed to go blind under our watch from causes that are avoidable.”
She said, “Sightsavers has been working in Nigeria for over 70 years, providing eye health assistance, with special attention to children, the future generation. The SeeClear project is a three-year initiative spearheaded by Sightsavers in Kaduna, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
“We are hoping that in the next three years, we will prevent avoidable blindness in many communities, enabling people to provide for their families and contribute to society.
“The three-year initiative, running from 2025 to 2027, aims to reduce avoidable vision impairment and provide accessible and affordable eye health services for everyone, including people with disabilities, women, children, and other marginalized groups.
“The program will also distribute spectacles, ensure that glasses are available for children, and provide surgeries for those who need them most.
“The four selected states will serve as model states for the initiative, with funding currently covering these four states. However, after three years, the impact will be assessed to determine whether to scale it up to other states.”
Shu’aib also commended the Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, and Kaduna State Governments for their support in making the program possible.
In separate interviews, the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Bamlong and the Representative of the Eye Health Care Committee in the North West, Abdulkadir Lawal Rafindadi, lauded Sightsavers for the initiative and prayed for its sustainability.
