Eye Health Initiative Trains Community Health Practitioners, Provides Free Treatment to 500 in Osun
An eye health initiative has underscored the critical role of early detection and community-level capacity building in vision care. Over 500 residents of Agbeda and Imadin communities in Ilesha West Local Government Area of Osun State received complimentary eye treatment as part of a targeted outreach program.
The intervention, conducted under the Vision Without Borders 2.0 outreach and organized by the R.E.T.I.N.A Initiative, combined direct patient care with training for primary healthcare workers. The goal was to enhance basic eye health assessment and referral systems within the communities.
Beneficiaries of the outreach received free eye examinations, reading glasses, medications, and specialist referrals where clinically necessary. The program also focused on strengthening local health infrastructure. Health workers at Ifesowapo Agbeda Primary Health Centre and Imadin Primary Health Centre were trained in basic visual acuity assessment. Additionally, visual acuity charts were donated to both facilities to support routine screening and early identification of vision problems.
Dr. Babatunde Bale, co-founder of the initiative, stated that the program was designed to complement existing primary healthcare services rather than replace them. “Our interest is in complementing what the primary health care system already provides by working with the facilities and health workers already serving these communities. We hope to make eye health a more consistent part of the care that residents receive at the primary level,” he said.
Dr. Amarachi Esonwune, co-founder and optometrist, emphasized the importance of ensuring that training translates into effective community-level practice. “Training the community health workers is something we feel strongly about. The visual acuity charts are only useful if there are people who know how to use them and understand when to refer. That capacity now exists in both communities,” she said.
Post-intervention data from the program revealed significant gaps in access and utilization of eye care services. Findings showed that 56.41% of beneficiaries had never previously used reading glasses. Among those who did not use glasses, 21.61% were unaware they needed them, and another 21.61% believed they had no vision problems. Despite this, 83.35% of respondents were aware that reading glasses improve near vision, indicating that the key challenge lies more in access and screening than awareness. When asked why people in their communities do not use reading glasses, 32.6% cited lack of awareness of the need for glasses.
The Vision Without Borders initiative is now in its second edition, following its inaugural outreach in Makoko, Lagos State in October 2024, where over 400 residents benefited from free eye care services, including referrals for conditions such as cataract and pterygium.
Organizers stated that the initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), noting that improved vision health contributes to education, productivity, and economic participation.
The program is supported by the Global Youth Mobilization Fund, an initiative backed by the Big Six International Youth Organisations, including the World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations (YMCAs), World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), The Scout Movement, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Additional partners include the European Union Youth Empowerment Fund, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Foundation.
According to the organizers, the initiative is part of a broader mission to expand access to eye care in underserved Nigerian communities through clinical outreach, education, and primary healthcare strengthening.
