The Oyo State Government has distributed 1,500 free eyeglasses and provided eye-screening services as part of activities marking the 2026 World Sight Day.
The event, held at the Ibadan North Local Government Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan, brought together government officials, healthcare professionals, development partners and representatives of organisations working to improve access to eye care.
The programme, themed “Love Your Eyes,” was organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Health through the State Eye Health Committee, in collaboration with partners and non-governmental organisations.
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Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Akintunde Ayinde, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding access to affordable and quality eye-care services across the state.
She said the government was working with healthcare providers and development partners to improve the availability of eye-care services, particularly for rural residents, older people and other vulnerable groups.
Dr Ajetunmobi noted that the distribution of corrective spectacles and provision of eye-screening services form part of broader efforts to reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment.
The commissioner highlighted the establishment of the Oyo State Eye Health Committee in 2025 as a step towards improving coordination among stakeholders and implementing sustainable eye-health interventions.
She identified collaboration with Christian Blind Mission (CBM), Eleta Eye Institute, Al-Basar International Foundation and other development partners as central to the implementation of eye-health programmes in the state.
Ajetunmobi said the government was strengthening services across the eye-care system from public awareness and early diagnosis to treatment, referral, and rehabilitation.
She stated that the Omituntun Free Health Mission continued to provide essential medical services, including eye screening and specialist consultations, to underserved communities across Oyo State’s 33 Local Government Areas.
The Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oluwaseun Olufade, commended the organisers and stressed the importance of protecting eyesight.
Olufade said his administration remained committed to improving residents’ welfare through initiatives designed to make healthcare services more accessible at the grassroots, highlighting the council’s free health insurance programmes for residents.
In a health awareness lecture, a Deputy Director of Nursing at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Mrs Grace Ogunrinde, educated participants on proper eye care, the importance of balanced nutrition and good hygiene in maintaining healthy eyesight.
Ogunrinde cautioned parents and caregivers against applying unprescribed substances to children’s eyes, warning that practices such as using breast milk or battery water for the eyes could cause serious damage.
The event featured goodwill messages from representatives of the Eye Health Committee and organisations including the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, the Nigerian Optometric Association, the National Optometric Association, Lions International, Rotary Club, Eleta Eye Institute and Al-Basar International Foundation.
The highlight of the programme was the free eye screening and medical consultations, alongside the distribution of 1,500 eyeglasses to beneficiaries, as participants reaffirmed their commitment to supporting humanitarian interventions and expanding access to vision care.
World Sight Day is observed annually to raise awareness of eye health and encourage action to prevent avoidable blindness and visual impairment.
