Breaking News: Nigerian Government Launches Glaucoma Guideline and Toolkit to Combat Blindness
The Nigerian Federal Government has taken a significant step towards combating blindness by launching a Glaucoma Guideline and Toolkit for eye health professionals nationwide. The initiative aims to provide a comprehensive framework for the programmatic and clinical management of glaucoma, a chronic yet treatable eye disorder that affects millions of Nigerians.
According to Okolo Oteri, the National Coordinator of the National Eye Health Programme at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss globally and in Nigeria. It is estimated that around two million Nigerians have glaucoma, with a staggering 1.8 million unaware of their condition.
Oteri emphasized that collective action is required to tackle glaucoma, which requires lifelong treatment and follow-up. She noted that the eye health promotion, blindness prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative needs of patients with glaucoma are not being met in Nigeria. The toolkit is expected to aid the management of glaucoma at the community level and in facilities, ensuring improved outcomes for patients and maintaining their vision throughout their lives.
The guideline was developed to cater to both the clinical and programmatic needs of patients. According to Fatima Kyari, a consultant ophthalmologist at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and contributor to the document, the toolkit includes a clinical section that provides guidance on treating glaucoma clinically, as well as a programmatic section that focuses on developing glaucoma care teams.
Kyari stressed that the care teams involved in glaucoma management go beyond ophthalmologists, including optometrists, ophthalmic nurses, and opticians. The toolkit also includes public awareness sections, engaging not only the public but also community leaders, government policymakers, and hospital managers.
The guideline was officially launched in 2023 by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, alongside two other documents aimed at enhancing eye health in Nigeria. This initiative is a significant step towards addressing the country’s eye health challenges and ensuring that Nigerians have access to quality eye care services.
