The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has commenced a free eye screening campaign across the state as part of activities marking the 2025 World Sight Day, themed “Love Your Eyes.”
Director of Public Health, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq, said on Wednesday that the initiative, organized in partnership with Sight savers and the National Eye Centre, aimed to improve access to quality eye care services for residents.
He explained that screening centres had been established at the Ministry of Health premises, General Hospital Sabo, and selected locations in Afaka and Kafanchan to ensure wide community participation.
Sadiq reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting eye health as a public health priority and ensuring quality services across all levels of the healthcare system.
He said the ministry had intensified community sensitization campaigns to dispel misconceptions and encourage residents to seek professional attention for eye-related problems rather than resorting to alternative medicine.
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“This day reminds us that the eyes are vital. We must educate our people to take symptoms seriously and consult qualified professionals when they experience any eye discomfort,” he said.
Sadiq added that primary healthcare workers had been trained to detect and manage eye conditions, being the first point of contact for many people in both rural and urban communities.
According to him, thousands of residents have already benefited from various state-led screening exercises and the distribution of corrective glasses supported by development partners.
He further disclosed that hundreds of teachers had been trained to identify signs of visual impairment among pupils and refer them for treatment through partnerships with Sight savers and the National Eye Centre.
Sadiq stressed that while progress had been made, more work was needed to ensure every citizen, especially children, had access to affordable and timely eye care across the state.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of the National Eye Centre, Dr. Amina Hassan-Wali, urged governments at all levels to increase funding and integrate eye care into all tiers of the health system.
She noted that eye health played a critical role in education, employment, and national development, adding that good vision contributed significantly to productivity and growth.
Dr. Wali explained that the National Eye Centre, established over 35 years ago, remained the country’s only specialized tertiary eye hospital, serving patients from across Nigeria and neighboring countries.
She said the centre was equipped with skilled professionals and support staff trained to deliver quality eye care through research, education, and patient-focused clinical services.
“World Sight Day offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of vision care and renew our commitment to expanding access to quality eye health nationwide,” she stated.
She called for stronger policy implementation and better resource allocation to improve the reach and effectiveness of eye care across primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities in Nigeria.
“The government has done well, but more is needed. We want eye care integrated into every hospital, with adequate funding to support its delivery across all levels,” she said.
In her remarks, the Programme Director for Neglected Tropical Diseases at Sight savers, Ms. Anita Gwom, urged Kaduna State to strengthen eye care services at both primary and secondary levels for wider access.
She said Sight savers had continued to partner with the National Eye Centre and other stakeholders to expand access to eye health services, particularly in underserved rural communities.
Gwom advocated regular school eye screenings and increased training of ophthalmologists and ophthalmic nurses to enhance service delivery and ensure early detection of childhood vision disorders.
She emphasized that children’s eyes should be checked yearly to identify and prevent conditions that could lead to irreversible vision loss later in life.
“The 2025 World Sight Day, themed ‘Love Your Eyes,’ aims to promote personal responsibility for vision health and discourage harmful practices such as staring at the sun or reading in dim light,” she noted.
Gwom observed that public awareness of eye care remained low, with many residents unaware of where to access services in hospitals.
She added that Sight savers was leading sensitization walks and distributing educational materials across Kaduna to promote eye health and share practical steps for maintaining good vision.
Gwom reaffirmed Sight Savers’ commitment to working with the Kaduna State Government, National Eye Centre, and other partners to make eye health a grassroots priority across all communities in the state.
