The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in collaboration with Onesight Essilorluxottica Foundation has launched the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria (ESCIN) to increase access to eye care in the country. The first Vision Centre in Lagos State was unveiled at the Alimosho General Hospital alongside the flag-off event.
The National Coordinator of the National Eye Health Programme (NEHP), Dr. Otero Okolo highlighted that the initiative was established to improve and ensure easy access to eye care across Nigeria.
Dubbed “Jigi Bola 2.0: Let Nigerians See,” this initiative, supported by President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Health, aims to address refractive errors and vision impairments affecting over 800 million people globally.
The initiative aligns with the World Health Assembly’s global target for effective eye care coverage by 2030.
Dr. Okolo emphasized the critical role of good vision in human productivity, noting that poor vision leads to an estimated annual loss of $400 billion globally.
The collaboration with Onesight aims to provide affordable glasses to all Nigerians, regardless of age, and increase screening for early detection and intervention of vision problems.
Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Tope Ajayi recalled the Jigi Bola Eye Initiative’s inception in Lagos State during President Tinubu’s governorship, benefiting over 200,000 residents. Now re-introduced nationally, the initiative targets the vision needs of Nigerians.
The President of Onesight Essilorluxottica Foundation, Mr. Anurag Hans stressed the foundation’s commitment to addressing global eye impairments, the largest disability worldwide.
He noted that two-thirds of the world population suffers from poor vision.
The foundation has initiated programs in 120 countries, distributing 18 million glasses globally, with plans to extend access to millions of Nigerians by year-end.
The Medical Director of Alimosho General Hospital, Dr. Ayodapo Soyinka, who represented the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, praised the initiative for strengthening the state’s capacity for efficient eye care delivery at the grassroots.
Alimosho, the state’s largest local government, was strategically chosen for the event.
The foundation also provided consumables to the hospital to offer free services for a year.
This collaboration between the FMOH, NEPH, and Onesight aims to promote sustainable access to quality eye care within Nigeria’s health system, ensuring long-term benefits for the population.
