Sightsavers, a non-governmental organization focused on eye care, has partnered with Bloomberg Philanthropies on a new $75 million global initiative to combat preventable vision impairment in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. The program was announced in Abuja on Thursday, October 9, 2025, to coincide with World Sight Day.
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Vision Initiative will support Sightsavers in its efforts to improve eye health services by:
- Training health workers and teachers in basic eye health screening.
- Providing eye examinations and eyeglasses.
- Conducting community, school, and workplace outreach programs.
The initiative aims to conduct vision screenings for 11.5 million people and distribute nearly seven million pairs of eyeglasses. It also plans to restore the sight of 250,000 individuals through cataract surgeries in Nigeria, the United States, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
The Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, Professor Joy Shua’ibu, stated that the initiative will be “transformational for people, communities, and nations,” as good eye health can reduce inequities and boost economic productivity and learning. She highlighted that investing in eye care offers significant economic benefits, with research showing that addressing preventable vision impairment in Nigeria could return about $2.45 billion to the economy by 2030.
