24 million Nigerians battle sight loss – Prof Uneke
Uburu, Ebonyi – In a stark revelation highlighting Nigeria's escalating public health crisis, at least 24 million citizens are grappling with some form of visual impairment, according to Professor Jesse Uneke, Vice Chancellor of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS).
The expert in medical parasitology and health policy made the disclosure during a high-profile press briefing marking the official unveiling of the university's groundbreaking Free Eye Care Initiative and Eye Research Programme.
The event, held at the newly established Institute for Eye Health and Visual Sciences Research (IEHVSR) on the DUFUHS campus, underscored the institution's bold commitment to reversing the tide of avoidable blindness in one of Africa's most underserved regions.
"This is not just a statistic—it's a call to action," Uneke declared, emphasizing that 84% of blindness cases in Nigeria stem from preventable causes like untreated cataracts, refractive errors, and glaucoma.
"Through targeted interventions like ours, we can drastically reduce this burden while fostering innovation in eye health research and training.", he added
Launched in February 2025 with support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the initiative has already delivered transformative results in just seven months. DUFUHS reports treating 2,412 patients across Ebonyi State and neighboring communities, with a focus on rural dwellers who often lack access to specialized care.
As Nigeria confronts a visual impairment crisis exacerbated by poverty, aging populations, and limited infrastructure, DUFUHS's model offers a scalable blueprint.
With plans to expand outreach and integrate AI-driven diagnostics, the university is poised to illuminate paths forward for millions.
The expert in medical parasitology and health policy made the disclosure during a high-profile press briefing marking the official unveiling of the university's groundbreaking Free Eye Care Initiative and Eye Research Programme.
The event, held at the newly established Institute for Eye Health and Visual Sciences Research (IEHVSR) on the DUFUHS campus, underscored the institution's bold commitment to reversing the tide of avoidable blindness in one of Africa's most underserved regions.
"This is not just a statistic—it's a call to action," Uneke declared, emphasizing that 84% of blindness cases in Nigeria stem from preventable causes like untreated cataracts, refractive errors, and glaucoma.
"Through targeted interventions like ours, we can drastically reduce this burden while fostering innovation in eye health research and training.", he added
Launched in February 2025 with support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the initiative has already delivered transformative results in just seven months. DUFUHS reports treating 2,412 patients across Ebonyi State and neighboring communities, with a focus on rural dwellers who often lack access to specialized care.
As Nigeria confronts a visual impairment crisis exacerbated by poverty, aging populations, and limited infrastructure, DUFUHS's model offers a scalable blueprint.
With plans to expand outreach and integrate AI-driven diagnostics, the university is poised to illuminate paths forward for millions.
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