WE CAN BRING VISION TO EVERYONE

Eighty million people across the Commonwealth are blind or have very poor vision. Many millions more – from children to the elderly - have less than perfect eyesight. But we have the means to change that. Today, thanks to developments in science and technology, four out of five people who are blind do not need to be: simple, tried and tested solutions exist to prevent or treat many types of blindness. And for the many people with impaired vision, often all that is needed is an eye test and a pair of glasses.

Good eyesight transforms lives, releasing potential to learn, to work, and to live life to the full. It boosts productivity and reduces social care costs. Vision is in many ways the golden thread running through the Sustainable Development Goals. It can help reduce poverty, and deliver quality education, decent work and gender equality.

Right across the Commonwealth, bold and imaginative steps are being taken to preserve, correct and restore eyesight.

Here in Nigeria, it is estimated that over two million people aged 40 years and above are blind. It is also a common finding that there is gender imbalance in visual impairment in children; alongside a lack of skilled workforce, referral or linkages between health and education services.

Various organisations are working with government partners to blindness prevention initiative one of which is the child eye health services including policy on screening children at school entry. Other areas of support include working with relevant institutions to develop and strengthen the Human Resource for eye Health (HReH). This is to bridge the gap in equality of access and ensure “No one is left behind” in the efforts to eliminate the avoidable causes of blindness in Nigeria.

Thanks to the initiatives taken in recent years, much progress has been made. But as the population of the Commonwealth grows and ages, much more is needed. Without action now, the number of people affected is set to triple by 2050. Every country is affected.

Commonwealth Heads of Government will meet in the United Kingdom in April 2018. They can commit to eye health for all, within universal health coverage, and to each taking one significant action towards it before they meet again in 2020.

Nigeria can help the Commonwealth lead the world in bringing vision to everyone, everywhere. Visit www.visionforthecommonwealth.com for more information. Dr. Sunday Isiyaku, Kaduna