Sightsavers Nigeria and Bloomberg Philanthropies officially unveiled their collaborative $75 million Vision Initiative, targeting improved access to eye care services across some low- and middle-income countries.
The partnership, according to a press release by Sightsavers on this World Sight Day, 2025, will offer life-transforming eye care to millions of beneficiaries in Nigeria, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Kenya, including the United States.
The initiative is designed to conduct vision screenings for 11.5 million people, distribute nearly seven million pairs of eyeglasses, and restore sight for 250,000 people through cataract surgeries.
Sightsavers will collaborate with Nigeria’s Ministries of Health and Education to strengthen vision and eye health services, train health workers and teachers in basic vision screening, provide eye examinations and glasses, and conduct outreach to communities, workplaces, schools, and out-of-school children.
Global statistics put the number of people suffering from untreated or preventable vision impairment at around 1 billion people worldwide—that is one in eight persons. Yet, vision and eye care, important elements in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, continue to be ‘missing’ topics in quite a number of Nigeria’s health and development priorities.
Shockingly, 70% of people with refractive error in Africa do not have the glasses they need. Women account for more than half of blindness and visual impairment across the world.
It is estimated that prioritising vision and eye care in Nigeria could generate the equivalent of 70,641 school years.
Stressing the importance of quality eye care services, Professor Joy Shua’ibu, country director at Sightsavers in Nigeria, said, “Making eye care a priority will be transformational for people, communities, and nations. Good eye health can reduce inequities, get more children in school, and enable more adults to work. Access to glasses and cataract surgery will boost learning and economic productivity.”
Prof. Joy Shua’ibu, Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, emphasized that Sightsavers is proud to advance access to vision and eye care services through its new partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and ongoing collaboration with governments, donors, decision-makers, NGOs, and other partners.
She added, “We hope Bloomberg Philanthropies’ investment will catalyze further global and national commitments, leveraging leadership, funding, and partnerships to make avoidable vision impairment truly preventable.”
The impact of access to glasses is seen in stories like Sa’id’s, a 12-year-old boy in Kaduna, Nigeria. Sa’id enjoys running with friends, reading, and learning at school. However, he was unhappy because he struggled with his eyesight. He couldn’t see clearly, and when asked to read at school, he had to move close to the board.
After a Sightsavers’ project trained teachers in basic eye health screening, Sai’d was diagnosed with refractive error and given glasses.
Reflecting on the support, Sa’id says, “I was happy when my teacher said I had a problem with my eye. I will be very happy because I want to be able to see everything from afar. I will be happy when I’m able to see well.”