By Ayodele Oni
A national policy document on eye health has been presented to President Bola Tinubu.
At the presentation by Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate in Abuja on Friday, President Bola Tinubu, declared his unwavering support for a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Health’s National Eye Health Programme and the Peek Vision Foundation to provide more than 5 million pairs of eyeglasses to Nigerians with sight impairments.
The president was speaking during a courtesy visit by the Founder and CEO of Peek Vision Foundation and Co-Founder of the Vision Catalyst Fund, Prof. Andrew Bastawrous.
Recounting how his first intervention in eye health was made, President Tinubu said “My first experience was with my mother of blessed memory. She was ill and she could not recognize me. When I intervened, she was treated and given a pair of glasses.
“The next question she asked me was: I have you, and you are able to do this for me. What about those other women and their children who may not have somebody like you to intervene for them?
“So I made a promise to her that I will pursue the mass provision of eye care vigorously and that I would provide free eye screenings and surgeries to people because of that question my mother asked me and because of her passion to see others healed.
“We eventually impacted the eye health of millions of people in Lagos, and you could see their joy over the immediate sight enhancements when they were given a pair of glasses,” the President fondly recalled.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale stated that the president highlighted the need for improved eye health services in Nigeria, and expressed concern about the more than 24 million Nigerians grappling with varying degrees of vision impairments.
“We must act now because sight and vision is critical to economic development and growth.”
Recalling his programme in Lagos state “Jigi Bola”, initiated during his tenure as the Governor in 2001, he said that it provided free eye screening and surgery to Lagosians while setting a new precedent for proactive eye care initiatives in West Africa.
“I am in support of this initiative, and I will encourage the mobilisation of further commitment to see this through and to reach vulnerable people across our country. Some parents may not pay attention to this, but I will, because I am touched,”
Prof. Bastawrous in his remark said “Good vision unlocks human potential. It improves earning, learning, and wellness for individuals, communities, and countries.”
