The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged African governments to step up efforts in tackling preventable blindness and visual impairment, warning that millions across the continent are living with avoidable sight loss due to poor access to basic eye care.
World Sight Day, observed every second Thursday of October, seeks to draw global attention to the importance of vision health.
But this year, WHO is raising concern that Africa is falling behind in addressing common eye problems such as cataracts and refractive errors, which remain the leading causes of blindness in the region.
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In a message commemorating the day, Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, revealed that only 26% of people who undergo cataract surgery in the region regain good vision, while just 30% of those with refractive errors, conditions like short- or long-sightedness, receive proper correction through glasses or other means.
“These figures represent millions of people who are needlessly living with poor vision or blindness—conditions that are largely preventable or treatable,” Janabi said nothing that with timely diagnosis and treatment, most of these cases could be avoided.
He noted that Africa has made progress in combating infectious causes of blindness such as onchocerciasis, trachoma, and vitamin A deficiency, but warned that new threats are emerging.
The region now faces a surge in eye-related conditions linked to ageing populations, lifestyle changes, and noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
Despite this growing challenge, WHO reports that only about one-third of African countries have adopted national eye health policies, an indication of weak political commitment and limited funding.
To close these gaps, WHO is pushing for stronger national strategies and investments in eye care.
The SPECS 2030 initiative, launched in June 2024, aims to make quality vision services affordable and accessible to all.
The programme builds on a 2021 World Health Assembly resolution (WHA74.12), which set global targets to improve coverage for cataract surgeries and refractive error correction by the end of the decade.
So far, eight African nations have begun implementing SPECS 2030, focusing on workforce training, public awareness, cost reduction, and data-driven planning.
Janabi called on governments to integrate vision care into primary health systems, expand training for optometrists and ophthalmologists, and make use of digital tools such as WHO Eyes, a mobile app that supports community-level vision screening.
He further noted that maintaining healthy eyesight is not the duty of governments alone, urging individuals to take personal responsibility for their vision.
According to him, regular eye examinations, healthy eating habits, and early treatment of conditions that can affect sight are essential to preventing vision loss.
Janabi expressed optimism that with united action and firm leadership, the continent can curb the rising cases of preventable blindness and ensure a brighter future for millions of Africans.
