Nigeria calls for greater investment from the private sector to transform eye care in Nigeria

Nigeria calls for greater investment from the private sector to transform eye care in Nigeria

From our journalist

Abuja (Core Reporters)-The Federal Government has called for stronger and more strategic investments by the private sector in eye health as part of efforts to reduce preventable blindness, improve productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s human capital.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call during a public-private sector roundtable on eye health held in Abuja on the theme “GIFT of Sight: Mobilizing sustainable partnerships and financing towards transforming eye care in Nigeria”.

Salako said eye health should no longer be seen solely as a healthcare sector concern, stressing that good eyesight is critical to education, workplace productivity, economic growth and national development. He noted that about 24 million Nigerians live with vision loss, much of which is linked to preventable or treatable conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, uncorrected refractive errors and digital eye strain.

He then urged businesses in banking, manufacturing, telecommunications, energy and other sectors to recognize investments in eye health as both a social responsibility and a strategic economic decision.

The Minister called on the private sector to implement innovative financing mechanisms, including blended financing, social impact funds, co-financing arrangements and concessional loans, to expand eye care infrastructure and access to quality services.

It also urged companies to channel their corporate social responsibility (CSR) investments into structured national programs such as school-based eye health initiatives, rural surgery initiatives and community-based permanent eye centers, while encouraging telcos to leverage digital infrastructure to expand tele-ophthalmology, remote screening and mobile diagnostic services.

He also challenged Nigerian manufacturers to reduce the country’s dependence on imported eye care products by investing in local production of eyeglass frames, lenses, ophthalmic medicines and other essential consumer goods, stressing that stronger domestic production would not only make eye care products more affordable and accessible, but would also create jobs, strengthen local supply chains and contribute to Nigeria’s broader economic development goals.

Salako highlighted the progress recorded by the federal government through the JigiBola 2.0 initiative, noting that in just over a year, the program, in collaboration with stakeholders, has provided more than two million free eye screenings, 1.5 million free glasses, trained over 2,200 primary healthcare workers and activated more than 800 PHC centers to provide primary eye care services in 16 states, adding that the next phase would extend services to more than one million of Nigerians in an additional 10 states, while the Renewed Hope Health Connect initiative aims to provide 25,000 free cataract surgeries by 2027.

The minister lauded existing private sector interventions, particularly the long-standing partnership between First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, which he said has reached more than 400,000 Nigerians, urging other corporate organizations to replicate the gesture to address the eye health needs of a population of over 200 million people.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, to create an enabling policy environment for sustainable public-private partnerships in eye health.

Salako called on development partners and civil society organizations to continue to provide catalytic support, technical expertise and innovation in helping Nigeria move from donor-dependent interventions to a locally funded, sustainable and accountable eye health ecosystem, stressing that “a nation cannot march towards economic prosperity if it walks blind”.

In her opening remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Yemisi Edun, represented by Dr. Diron Olojo, said eye health is not just a medical concern but a critical component of education, productivity, economic inclusion and human dignity.

He noted that preventable and treatable vision impairments continue to impact individuals, families and communities, emphasizing that gaps in awareness, trained personnel, equipment and access to services must be addressed through continued collaboration.

Edun highlighted FCMB’s partnership with the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation through the Priceless Gift of Sight Initiative, launched in 2009, which had provided free eye care services to more than 400,000 Nigerians by July 2024 through eye tests, optical services, surgeries and disease management, reiterating that experience has demonstrated the value of long-term partnerships in delivering health impact.

The FCMB CEO reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to expanding access to eye care and urged stakeholders to use the roundtable to agree on three practical priorities: identifying communities and services with the greatest unmet need; develop sustainable financing plans with clearly defined responsibilities; and establish delivery timelines and measurable indicators of accountability.

In her presentation, titled “The True Value of Vision: Transforming Health, Economy and Human Potential,” Dr. Oteri Okolo, National Coordinator of the National Program for Eye, Ear and Sensory Health, said the meeting was not simply to discuss population-based public health interventions or clinical statistics, but to address a fundamental pillar of human dignity, development, prosperity and social potential: the value of sight.

He noted that for generations, eye health has been seen as a secondary priority, a peripheral health issue relegated to the background in favor of acute illnesses and maternal health, emphasizing that vision is not a luxury, but a critical window through which humans learn, work, connect and navigate the world.

Dr Oteri, while highlighting the progress made in the National Program for Eye, Ear and Sensory Health, said eye health has been integrated into the broader national healthcare architecture.

“Our strategic focus has been guided by the National Eye Health Policy and Strategic Plan with Integrated People Centered Eye Care (IPCEC) as our strategy, ensuring that eye care is not an isolated specialty, but an essential component of Universal Health Coverage (UHC),” said Dr Okolo

In a goodwill message represented by Prof. Joy Shuaibu – Country Director, Sightsavers and Coordinator, Non-Governmental Eye Health Development Organization NGDO expressed appreciation “on behalf of the NGDO Coalition for Eye Health in Nigeria, we are very pleased with the efforts and commitment of the National Program for Eye, Ear and Sensory Health as the leadership has strategically engaged relevant players in this space.”

He encouraged the Coalition to focus during the discussion on actionable solutions, innovative financing and scalable partnerships that will accelerate progress towards universal access to eye health services across Nigeria.

The head of the Vision Care for Development Foundation, supported by Sterling Oil, Mimansa Shulala, described the theme as relevant because restoring sight is not just about health, but about restoring opportunity, dignity, productivity and hope for the disadvantaged and disadvantaged community, which is difficult to reach otherwise.

He highlighted that the foundation, through the support of SIPCON and Tulsi Chanrai, has screened more than 17,000 individuals, beneficiaries and underprivileged communities in the last two and a half years and has identified over 3,000 plus individuals in need of surgery and has facilitated more than 1,500 cataract and peritoneal surgeries so far, and many more are pending, adding that more than 1,000 surgeries are being performed in collaboration with TCF at the facility in Calabar.

Mimansa said their goal is to strengthen the government system, build local capacity, create a model that can be sustained and expanded. “This is a strength of public-private partnership, where government provides leadership and system. SIPCO, Sterling Oil provided support and resources. TCF brought its expertise and technical knowledge, while VCDF channeled the program to the community. When this strong force comes together, we will go beyond individual intervention to build a sustainable solution for communities.”

The roundtable brought together government, healthcare providers, private sector organisations, foundations and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration towards a more accessible, equitable and sustainable eye care system in Nigeria.