Sightsavers Reaffirms Commitment to Ending Avoidable Blindness, Promoting Disability Inclusion
…Hosts Media Partners Meeting in Kano
By Mustapha Salisu
An International Organization, Sightsavers, has restated its commitment to preventing avoidable blindness and advancing disability inclusion across Nigeria and beyond.
The reaffirmation came during a two-day Media Partners meeting held between Monday and Tuesday, which brought together participants from Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto etc to discuss ongoing initiatives and strengthen collaborative action in promoting inclusive development.
Speaking at the opening session, Esther Bature, the Country Advocacy Coordinator of Sightsavers, conveyed goodwill messages from the Country Director, Professor Joy Shuaibu, who expressed gratitude to all partners for their continued cooperation and support over the years.
“On behalf of Professor Joy Shuaibu, I bring you warm greetings and appreciation for the strong partnerships that continue to advance our shared vision”
“Sightsavers remains committed to building a world where no one goes blind from avoidable causes and where people with disabilities participate equally in every sphere of life” Bature said.
She explained that Sightsavers has been operational in Nigeria for over 73 years, having established its presence in 1950, shortly after its formation.
Though the organization now works across the country, Kaduna State holds a special place in its history as it was the first Nigerian state to host the organization’s national office for over two decades before it moved to Abuja.
Highlighting Sightsavers’ thematic focus, Bature said the organization’s work extends beyond eye health to encompass education, employment, healthcare, and economic empowerment, all anchored on disability inclusion.
She also brought out Sightsavers’ active involvement in tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), which, despite their low mortality rates, contribute to high levels of disability and poverty.
“Neglected diseases are called so because they don’t kill immediately, but they rob people of their ability to live productive lives”
“We are in the business of freeing people from that burden” Bature noted.
During a presentation on inclusion, Julius from Sightsavers stated that the session was designed to strengthen partnerships aimed at amplifying the voices of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.
He explained that the engagement also sought to promote the use of appropriate disability language in the media, provide guidance on inclusive reporting, and explore collaboration opportunities with journalists and media organizations.
According to Julius, journalism for social change can play a crucial role in advancing disability inclusion by addressing the limited coverage of disability issues and correcting narratives that often portray PWDs as objects of charity rather than individuals with rights.
He emphasized the need for more human-interest stories that highlight the resilience, innovation, and challenges of PWDs, while linking disability reporting to national development priorities such as poverty reduction, education, and health.
