Kwara dispenses 100,000 reading glasses, expands eye care services to 83 PHCs
The Kwara State Government says it has dispensed more than 100,000 pairs of reading glasses to residents through the VisionSpring-supported Nigeria Jigi-Bola initiative, while expanding eye care services to 83 primary healthcare centres across the state.
The expansion follows the addition of 32 primary healthcare facilities to the programme, increasing the number of participating centres from 51 to 83 across the state’s 16 local government areas.
To support the expansion, the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), in collaboration with VisionSpring, has commenced a five-day training for health workers from the newly selected facilities.
The training, taking place in Ilorin, is aimed at equipping participants with skills in basic eye screening, vision assessment, data management, referral of complicated cases and the dispensing of reading glasses.
Speaking at the opening of the training, the Executive Secretary of KWSPHCDA, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, described the initiative as a life-changing intervention that has improved the quality of life of thousands of residents by restoring their vision.
She commended VisionSpring for its support and appreciated the Kwara State Government for creating an enabling environment that has contributed to the success of the programme.
Elelu said integrating eye care services into primary healthcare centres has increased access to essential healthcare at the grassroots and encouraged participants to make the most of the training.
Also speaking, the Project Coordinator of the PHC POWERS Project at VisionSpring, Dr. Sa’ad Ado Koki, said Kwara had already surpassed the programme’s 2025-2027 target by dispensing more than 100,000 pairs of reading glasses within one year of implementation.
According to him, the achievement has positioned Kwara among the leading states implementing the initiative and strengthened VisionSpring’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the state.
Koki attributed the success to the support of the state government, the commitment of frontline health workers and the enabling environment provided for development partners.
Earlier, the Director of Primary Health Care Systems, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, commended VisionSpring for its continued support and urged participants to actively engage in the training.
The Kwara State Director of the National Orientation Agency, Ibrahim Abubakar, also praised the partnership between VisionSpring and the state government, noting that the agency has supported the initiative through sustained public awareness campaigns and advocacy across the state.
