The Kwara State Government has distributed more than 100,000 pairs of reading glasses to residents across the state's 16 local government areas through the VisionSpring-supported Nigeria Jigi-Bola initiative.

The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), Professor Nusirat Elelu, disclosed this during an event in Ilorin.

Professor Elelu described the initiative as a life-changing intervention that has restored the vision of thousands of residents while significantly improving their quality of life.

She said the programme has expanded access to eye care services by increasing the number of Primary Health Care Centres providing eye care and dispensing reading glasses to 83 facilities across the state.

The KWSPHCDA boss commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for supporting the partnership and creating an enabling environment for the successful implementation of the initiative.

She reaffirmed the agency's commitment to expanding the programme, noting that integrating eye care into primary healthcare has improved access to essential health services and increased patronage of health facilities across Kwara State.

Professor Elelu also urged the health workers selected for the programme to actively participate in the training, stressing that the knowledge and practical skills acquired would enable them to deliver quality eye care services professionally.

The Project Coordinator of the PHC POWERS Project at VisionSpring, Dr Sa'ad Koki, also commended the Kwara State Government for its commitment and support towards the successful implementation of the initiative.

He disclosed that the state has distributed more than 100,000 pairs of reading glasses, surpassing the programme's 2025-2027 target within just one year of implementation.

Earlier, the Director of Primary Health Care Systems, Dr Michael Oguntoye, appreciated VisionSpring for its continued support to the agency and the people of Kwara State.

Also speaking, the Kwara State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Ibrahim Abubakar, said the agency has sustained public awareness campaigns and advocacy visits to communities and key institutions to encourage residents to take advantage of available eye care services across the state.