Emmanuel Daudu
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on African governments to intensify efforts to expand access to quality and affordable eye care services, as the world commemorates World Sight Day 2025 today.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, made the call in a message marking the annual observance, which highlights the importance of healthy vision and the urgent need to prevent avoidable blindness across the continent.
Dr. Janabi said that while the African Region has made commendable progress in reducing blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency, onchocerciasis, and trachoma, new challenges such as aging populations, poor diets, sedentary lifestyles, and the rise of noncommunicable diseases have led to an increase in preventable vision problems like refractive errors and cataracts.
“Good eyesight is not just about seeing clearly; it impacts learning, employment, and overall quality of life. Millions still live with preventable vision impairment, and the numbers will rise unless we act decisively,” Dr. Janabi stated.
According to WHO, effective coverage for cataract surgery in Africa currently stands at just 26%, while coverage for refractive error correction such as eyeglasses is only 30%. Furthermore, only one in three countries in the Region has developed a national policy on eye health a situation that underscores the need for greater political will and investment.
To tackle these gaps, WHO highlighted several global and regional frameworks already guiding eye health efforts. Among them are Vision 2020: The Right to Sight, the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA74(12) adopted in 2021, and the SPECS 2030 initiative launched in 2024.
The SPECS 2030 initiative seeks to ensure that by the year 2030, everyone who needs vision correction can access quality, affordable, and people-centred eye care. Eight African countries have already begun implementing the plan, engaging stakeholders and developing national workplans.
Dr. Janabi urged Member States to align with WHO guidance by developing and funding national eye health strategies, integrating assistive technologies into health benefit packages, and expanding the eye health workforce.
He also emphasized the importance of including eye and sensory health indicators in national data systems to improve evidence-based policymaking.
The WHO Regional Director encouraged governments to leverage World Sight Day and other global platforms to raise public awareness, promote early detection, and combat stigma associated with vision impairment. He further called on citizens to adopt preventive habits such as regular eye examinations and timely medical care.
“Healthy vision means a better future for every person, every community, and every nation,” he said.
World Sight Day is observed annually on the second Thursday of October to draw attention to blindness and visual impairment. This year’s observance underscores the collective responsibility of individuals, policymakers, and health institutions to protect and promote eye health across Africa.
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