In commemoration of the 2025 World Sight Day, the World Health Organisation has expressed deep concerns that several factors including unhealthy lifestyles, altered diets, and sedentary lifestyles, were increasing the number of preventable vision impairments and blindness such as refractive errors and cataracts, in the African region.
Other factors are aging populations, unhealthy lifestyles, environmental factors, inadequate knowledge of good eye health practices, an increase in noncommunicable diseases and low awareness.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi in a message on Wednesday to mark the Day, stressed the importance of raising awareness about the importance of maintaining healthy vision.
He said: “Good vision significantly enhances overall well-being, academic performance, employment opportunities, and economic productivity. Meanwhile, vision impairment remains a significant global public health concern, with prevalence expected to rise without targeted interventions.”
The RD noted that through “concerted action, the African Region has reduced vision loss resulting from conditions such as vitamin A deficiency, onchocerciasis, and trachoma,” the earlier mentioned factors were complicating the already existing health system challenges.”
He highlighted several strategic interventions that have been implemented to address refractive errors and cataracts to include; Vision 2020: the Right to Sight aimed at eliminate avoidable and reversible blindness, the Furthermore, the SPECS 2030 initiative launched in June 2024 to drive access to quality, affordable, and people-centred care and the World Health Assembly adopted decision WHA74(12) in 2021 urging governments to adopt integrated people-centred eye care with global targets.
Janabi however decried that despite the various efforts undertaken to reduce vision loss and blindness, there was a significant percentage of unmet needs in the African region..
“Effective coverage for cataract surgery in the Region stands at just 26%, meaning that only about one in four individuals requiring cataract surgery have undergone the procedure with a good visual outcome. Similarly, effective refractive error coverage is estimated at 30% in the Region, indicating that only one in three people who need vision correction with eyeglasses have been successfully treated to achieve good vision.
“These figures underscore the urgent need for stronger health system integration, increased investment, and targeted strategies to improve access to quality eye care services.”
To ensure equitable and sustainable eye care across member countries, the RD called for increased awareness, reduction of stigma, and empowerment of individuals with sensory impairments.
“This entails developing national strategies aligned with WHO guidance, integrating sensory care and assistive technologies into health benefit packages with sustainable funding, expanding and training the health workforce, and incorporating sensory health indicators into national information systems to guide evidence-based policies.
“Policy-makers should also utilize global platforms, such as World Sight Day, to raise public awareness and promote early detection. Countries are encouraged to use WHO technical tools – including data collection instruments, situation analysis frameworks, and digital innovations such as WHO Eyes, a free smartphone application for vision assessment – to support routine screening and strengthen policy and advocacy efforts.”
Janabi urged individuals to reconsider their daily habits and adopt preventive measures against vision impairment and blindness, such as regular eye examinations and timely medical attention to achieve optimal eye health and the advantages of a good vision.
