Nigeria

Blindness in Nigeria

Nigeria is located on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and is one of the ten most populated countries in the world. It has one of the largest economies in Africa, however, many Nigerians suffer from an unequal distribution of healthcare.

Over 80% of the nation’s ophthalmologists work in urban areas, even though 70% of the entire population lives in rural areas. As a result, ophthalmologists are in short supply throughout the country. There is only one eye doctor available per one million Nigerians in urban areas, and even less in rural areas, leaving many Nigerians without access to eye care services. The 5 leading causes of blindness in Nigeria are cataracts, glaucoma, river blindness, diabetic retinopathy, and uncorrected refractive errors, all of which are preventable conditions with the right medical care.