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Sightsavers calls for better access to eyes health services

Sightsavers has called for better access to eye health services for everyone from children to the elderly as the world marks Sight Day on the 10th of October by the international development organisation

Vision problems don’t just affect the elderly, a common misconception. Everyone, at some point, needs support to maintain good eye health to see the board at school, to drive and work, and for independence later in life.

Yet eye health is a neglected area of healthcare, and people are struggling unnecessarily with avoidable blindness and vision impairment.

Dr Joy Shu’aibu, country director at Sightsavers, said, “Two-thirds of children and adults who require glasses to help them see clearly do not have access to these glasses.

The same can be said of other eye conditions like cataracts (a condition children can be born with), where a significant proportion of people, especially those living in rural communities, are unable to get the treatment they need.”

Globally, 1.1 billion people suffer from untreated or preventable visual impairment. In Nigeria, the statistics are similarly alarming; as of 2020, an estimated 24 million people experience vision loss, with 1.3 million of those individuals classified as blind or have moderate to severe vision impairment due to cataracts or refractive errors.

This year, for World Sight Day, Sightsavers is supporting a range of activities under the Plateau Inclusive Eye Health Programme. This comprehensive eye health initiative in Jos and Shendam will include screenings for up to 700 pupils, eye health education for teachers, and the provision of glasses.

Roadshows and media engagements will help raise awareness at both state and local levels. Visits to the Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) will be conducted, along with community campaigns advocating for support from traditional rulers and local institutions. Additionally, a medical and surgical outreach is planned for Quanpan in collaboration with the state government and various partners.

Dr Shu’aibu stated, “These events celebrate the achievements made and raise awareness of the eye health crisis we face globally and in Nigeria. We have made great progress to meet the challenges, with governments, donors, decision-makers, NGOs, and other partners collaborating to improve access to quality and affordable eye health services for everyone. But big changes are still needed to make avoidable vision impairment truly avoidable.”

Cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors, such as shortsightedness, are the leading causes of blindness and vision impairment, respectively. Addressing global eye health issues would cost only a fraction—one-sixteenth—of the annual productivity loss attributed to visual impairment.

For example, having the right glasses could increase an individual’s earnings by a third, subsequently boosting the economy. However, most people lack access to the glasses they need. Furthermore, children with vision impairments in low- and middle-income countries are up to five times less likely to receive a formal education, severely impacting their future prospects.

The transformative impact of eye health is exemplified by Rabiatu, a vibrant four-year-old from Zamfara, who recently underwent successful cataract surgery. The procedure changed her world from blurry shadows to vivid colors. Beaming with joy after her bandages were removed, she exclaimed, “Mama, I can see!”

Dr. Joy Shu’aibu concluded, “Many eye health interventions can be relatively small or straightforward, yet the impact can be life-changing.”

In Nigeria and around the world, people are gathering colleagues, friends, or items from work or home to form the shape of an eye, sharing their creations on social media with the hashtag #EyeCreation. This collective action highlights the need for significant changes to address the global inequity in eye health.

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