The Plateau State Government says it will expand eye care services to underserved communities as part of efforts to prevent avoidable blindness and promote early treatment of vision problems.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, disclosed this ahead of the 2026 World Sight Day, which will be observed on October 8 with the theme, “Love Your Eyes”.
Ba’amlong said the government was seeking to move eye health beyond isolated interventions by integrating services into the wider healthcare system and strengthening referral pathways.
He said the approach would help residents, particularly those in hard-to-reach areas, access screening, diagnosis and treatment before vision problems became severe.
“Our goal must be an eye health system where every person—regardless of age, gender, location or economic circumstances—has the opportunity to receive appropriate eye care,” he said.
The commissioner said poor vision could affect children’s education, workers’ productivity and the ability of people to move around safely and live independently.
He urged parents and caregivers to pay attention to changes in children’s vision, while advising workers to protect their eyes from workplace hazards and undergo regular examinations.
Ba’amlong also cautioned older people against dismissing changes in vision as a normal part of ageing, urging them to seek professional assessment and treatment.
He called for greater collaboration among government agencies, health professionals, development partners, schools, traditional and religious leaders and community organisations to expand awareness and screening.
According to him, such partnerships had already contributed to improvements in awareness, equipment, training and access to eye care services across the state.
The commissioner also urged community leaders and teachers to promote accurate information on eye health and discourage practices that could damage people’s sight.
“Most importantly, let us not wait until a vision problem becomes severe before seeking help,” he said.
Ba’amlong said the government would continue to adopt appropriate technology and innovations to identify eye conditions earlier and extend services to communities that need them most.
He urged residents to make eye health a personal and family priority as the state marked World Sight Day.
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