Tinubu approves five million glasses for Nigerians with vision impairments

President Bola Tinubu, has declared his unwavering support for a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Health’s National Eye Health Programme and the Peek Vision Foundation.

The partnership aims to distribute over five million pairs of eyeglasses to Nigerians dealing with visual impairments.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Friday, said President Tinubu declared the Federal Government’s support during a courtesy visit by the Founder and CEO of Peek Vision Foundation and Co-Founder of the Vision Catalyst Fund, Prof. Andrew Bastawrous.

Ngelale noted that as the President made a pledge on behalf of the Federal Government, he recalled his first intervention in eye health.

He said, “My first experience was with my mother of blessed memory. She was ill and she could not recognise me. When I intervened, she was treated and given a pair of glasses. The next question she asked me was: ‘I have you, and you are able to do this for me. What about those other women and their children who may not have somebody like you to intervene for them?’

“So I made a promise to her that I will pursue the mass provision of eye care vigorously and that I would provide free eye screenings and surgeries to people because of that question my mother asked me and because of her passion to see others healed.

“We eventually impacted the eye health of millions of people in Lagos, and you could see their joy over the immediate sight enhancements when they were given a pair of glasses,” the President recalled.

Highlighting the pressing need for improved eye health services in Nigeria, President Tinubu expressed concern about the more than 24 million Nigerians grappling with varying degrees of vision impairments.

Emphasizing the urgency of the matter, President Bola Tinubu stressed the vital role of sight and vision in driving economic development and growth.

Prof. Bastawrous, expressing his commitment to the cause, said, “Good vision unlocks human potential. It improves earning, learning, and wellness for individuals, communities, and countries.”