Nigeria is a country in West Africa with a large population of over 155 million people. In 2011, an eye health programme, was launched in two states in Nigeria, the Federal Capital Territory and Zamfara state. The programme, Standard Chartered Bank Seeing is Believing, is a collaboration which delivers accessible and affordable eye care provision for underserved communities in each state, by establishing a comprehensive and sustainable eye care system as an integral part of the current health system.

Eye care facilities include both optometric and ophthalmic services, together forming comprehensive vision care, including eye examinations and spectacle fitting for patients with refractive error and low vision, as well as cataract surgery services. The programme aims to train local personnel to work in newly equipped facilities combining their local awareness and new vision care skills to greatly improve the quality of life in their local communities.

Vision Centre development is the focus of the second new ICEE collaborative programme to emerge in Nigeria. The programme supports the current National Five Year Action Plan on the Prevention of Blindness and the Cross River State eye care programme, as well as the Vision 2020: Right to Sight, an initiative of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the World Health Organization.

The common aim of all these initiatives is to reduce the prevalence of avoidable blindness, visual impairment and eye disease in these regions by 50% before the year 2015. Operations will include training community health care workers, offering refresher and low vision courses for optometrists plus setting up five Vision Centres to provide local communities with eye examinations and affordable spectacles.

Funders:

• ICEE
• Standard Chartered Bank
• Sightsavers
• Cross River State Ministry of Health

Partners:

• Ministry of Health Nigeria
• Federal Government of Nigeria
• FCT and Zamfara Ministries of Health
• State primary and secondary school boards