Digital Technology to Enhance Eye Care Access in Nigeria

During the opening of the 51st Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN), Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, advocated for the use of digital technology to enhance access to eye care. He stated that digital transformation is crucial for improving healthcare access and clinical outcomes, particularly for underserved populations facing issues like preventable blindness.

Salako highlighted the ongoing challenges of unaddressed visual impairments and the geographical and socioeconomic barriers limiting access to specialized eye care. He mentioned technologies such as tele-ophthalmology and artificial intelligence that could extend services to rural areas.

The minister also revealed that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Peak Vision to implement AI-powered screening devices in school health programs. Additionally, he noted the DigiBola 2.0 program's success in screening nearly two million people and providing over 1.3 million free reading glasses, with plans to expand these initiatives under the Renew Hope Health Connect program.