Shortage of ophthalmologists fuels rising blindness in Jigawa, says Muhammad

A growing gap between the number of ophthalmologists required and those currently available in Jigawa State has been identified as a major factor driving the rising incidence of blindness, particularly among children.

Findings from the state reveal that no fewer than 81,797 cases of eye-related complications were recorded in 2024 alone, highlighting a worsening public health challenge largely associated with cataracts and an acute shortage of eye care professionals.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the former COVID-19 Isolation Centre in Dutse and organised by the Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS), the Acting Chairman of the Jigawa State Eye Health Committee, Dr. Usman Muhammad, described the manpower deficit as alarming.

Dr. Muhammad, who also heads Ophthalmologist Development at the Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital, said World Health Organisation (WHO) standards recommend at least four ophthalmologists and 10 optometrists per one million people.

“With a population of over seven million, Jigawa State requires about 28 ophthalmologists and 70 optometrists to provide adequate eye care services,” he said.

He noted, however, that the situation on ground falls far below this requirement. “Currently, across all state and federal health facilities, Jigawa has only three ophthalmologists and three optometrists, with no practising paediatric ophthalmologist or glaucoma specialist in the entire state,” he added.

According to him, the impact of the shortage is more severe in rural areas. “We see no fewer than 50 patients daily, and out of these, between 15 and 20 are often totally blind,” he said.

Dr. Muhammad identified cataracts as the leading cause of blindness, accounting for about 50 per cent of cases, in line with national and global trends.

“Without a significant increase in eye care specialists, it will be difficult to reduce the backlog of preventable blindness caused by cataracts, glaucoma and other eye diseases,” he warned.

Also speaking, the Eye Health Manager at HANDS, Mr. Abalis Dasat, attributed the worsening situation to limited access to healthcare facilities, poor public awareness of preventable eye conditions and the absence of disability-friendly health infrastructure.

He said the HANDS initiative is focused on strengthening the healthcare system to ensure that people in hard-to-reach communities can access quality eye care services.

Data from the Federal Ministry of Health indicate that about 24 million Nigerians live with some form of sight loss, while 1.3 million adults are completely blind.

Experts estimate that 84 per cent of blindness in Nigeria is preventable or treatable, but gaps in awareness, funding and specialist care continue to undermine efforts to tackle the challenge. Cataracts account for between 43 and 45 per cent of avoidable blindness cases, while glaucoma—often described as the “silent thief of sight”—accounts for about 16.7 per cent and remains the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the country.

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