By Danjuma Amodu | March 12, 2026
The Federal Government and NNPCL have launched an initiative to combat blindness in Nigeria, coinciding with World Glaucoma Week. The strategic framework aims to address glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
Minister of State for Health and Social welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, announced plans to prioritize integrated eye care services nationwide. He reaffirmed its commitment to addressing glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness in Nigeria. Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made this pledge during a press briefing marking the 2026 World Glaucoma Week in Abuja.
Dr. Salako announced that the government is prioritizing integrated eye care services across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels to ensure early detection and management of glaucoma under the National Eye Health Strategic Development Plan 2024-2028.
According to a statement by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Ado Bako, Nigeria Glaucoma Guidelines and Toolkit have been launched to standardize diagnosis, treatment, and referral protocols.
Dr. Salako highlighted efforts to train healthcare workers, including ophthalmologists and primary healthcare workers, to deliver high-quality care. He emphasized the importance of awareness, citing the theme of this year’s event: “Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World.”
Dr. Salako urged Nigerians, especially those aged 40 and above, to prioritize regular eye examinations and manage their overall health to prevent glaucoma.
The government is rolling out nationwide activities, including free glaucoma examinations and public awareness campaigns, to combat the disease. The Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom noted that glaucoma affects nearly 1 in 20 Nigerians over 40, with 90% unaware of their condition until significant vision loss occurs.
The Ministry aims to reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment through the National Eye Health Programme. Kachollom stressed that the Ministry is committed to improving health outcomes, with a focus on reducing avoidable blindness and visual impairment. She stated that the goal is to ensure no Nigerian goes blind from a condition that can be managed if caught early.
Dr. Magdaline Ajani, a glaucoma specialist, warned of the disease’s silent progression and advised against unsupervised steroid-based eye drops and unverified traditional remedies. She highlighted signs of glaucoma, including rainbow-like halos and difficulty with peripheral vision.
Dr. Ajani warned that the disease often progresses without noticeable symptoms, making awareness and regular eye examinations crucial. She advised against the misuse of steroid-based eye drops and unverified traditional remedies, which can worsen complications. The signs of glaucoma include rainbow-like halos around lights, frequent changes in eye glasses, and difficulty with peripheral vision.
Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako emphasized that early detection through simple, painless tests is critical in managing glaucoma. He urged those diagnosed with the condition to adhere to their doctor’s prescriptions to prevent progression and save their sight.
Dr. Salako highlighted the government’s efforts to integrate eye health into primary healthcare nationwide, stating that this would help identify gaps and successes in the fight against glaucoma.
He also emphasized the importance of unity among Nigerians in combating the disease, saying, “Together, we can reduce the burden of this disease, protect the vision of our people, and build the Nigeria of our dreams.”
In a related development, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is joining forces to promote a glaucoma-free world as we mark World Glaucoma Week. The corporation stresses that early detection is crucial to preventing irreversible vision loss and advises citizens to take charge of their eye health.
As part of the week’s activities, NNPCL is calling on individuals to visit a Nigerian Medical Services Limited (NMSL) hospital for a routine eye screening. NMSL is a healthcare arm of the NNPCL, providing medical services to staff, retirees, and the general public. The NNPCL listed locations for the screening are: Abuja, Benin, Kaduna, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Warri. It advised the people to take this opportunity to get your eyes checked and treated.
The event was part of activities marking the 2026 World Glaucoma Week, with nationwide activities, including free glaucoma examinations at selected health facilities in 11 states and the FCT, and public awareness campaigns via traditional and social media.
