Nigeria's Government Plans 25,000 Free Cataract Surgeries

The Federal Government of Nigeria has committed to strengthening eye health services with a target of providing 25,000 free cataract surgeries by the end of 2027. This initiative, announced by Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, during the 2026 World Sight Day, aims to reduce avoidable blindness and enhance access to quality eye care.

Dr. Salako, represented by Dr. Doris Afam Aneke, the Director of the E-Health Division, highlighted significant interventions, including training over 3,000 healthcare workers and activating more than 1,400 primary healthcare centres for eye care. Additionally, over 1.5 million pairs of reading spectacles have been distributed under the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria (ESCIN).

The government has also screened over 1.5 million school-age children for visual problems and is establishing four new vision centres in Enugu, Edo, Sokoto, and Nasarawa States. Dr. Salako emphasized that eye health is crucial for education and productivity and assured continued collaboration with various stakeholders to improve eye care access.