1.4M Nigerians Benefit from Free Reading Glasses Under Jigi Bola 2.0 Health Initiative

Dr. Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health, announced that 1.4 million Nigerians have benefited from the Jigi Bola 2.0 initiative, a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health and the Clinton Health Access Initiative.

The program aims to deliver five million free pairs of eyeglasses to needy Nigerians within a year. So far, over 1.5 million Nigerians above 40 years old have been screened for presbyopia in 16 states.

The initiative has recorded a 94% utilization rate, with 65% of beneficiaries receiving their first-ever pair of glasses. The program also focuses on closing the gender gap in access to eye care, with 53% of recipients being women.

Plans are underway to expand the initiative to more states and establish new vision centers. Various organizations, including the Christian Health Association of Nigeria, are actively involved in dispensing glasses and supporting the initiative's expansion.