By MaryAnn Chukwuma
As the world marks World Sight Day on Oct. 8, Anambra State’s efforts to improve access to eye health services highlight the importance of affordable, quality and timely care in protecting residents’ vision.
Observed under the global “Love Your Eyes” campaign, World Sight Day draws attention to the need for people to prioritise eye health through regular examinations, early detection and prompt treatment of vision-related conditions.
As part of efforts to expand specialist healthcare services, the Anambra State Government under Governor Chukwuma Soludo established the Specialist Eye Care Centre, Nise, offering specialised treatment for conditions including refractive errors, glaucoma and diabetic eye complications.
The centre provides cataract surgery and other specialist services, bringing essential eye care closer to residents who may otherwise face challenges accessing such treatment.
According to the state government, the facility attended to more than 2,500 patients and performed 30 surgeries within its first 18 months of operation.
The centre is staffed by ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses and other health professionals, while the state has also strengthened preventive eye care through community screening outreaches.
Previous outreaches screened 1,528 people and provided reading glasses to 1,102 beneficiaries. The state’s 2026 health plan further includes free eye screening, provision of spectacles and glaucoma awareness campaigns.
The plan provides for cataract surgeries for 100 people, alongside training for Primary Healthcare workers to identify eye conditions early and refer patients for appropriate specialist care. A Technical Working Group is coordinating sensory health interventions across the state.
As World Sight Day promotes the message “Love Your Eyes,” Anambra’s ongoing interventions underscore the value of prevention, early detection and access to professional eye care in helping residents maintain healthy vision and quality of life.
MaryAnn Chukwuma is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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