According to The Guardian reporting, the Southeast region of Nigeria has been identified as the area with the highest number of glaucoma cases in the country. This disclosure was made by the Abia State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Uche, during a symposium to kick off World Glaucoma Week. The Commissioner expressed concern over the “terrible” nature of the disease, which is often referred to as the silent thief of sight because it progresses without early symptoms.
To combat this trend, the Abia State Government has announced a crackdown on “quackery” and the traditional practice of “couching,” which often leads to permanent blindness. The state has also equipped health centers across all wards with modern eye-care facilities. Residents are being encouraged to take advantage of these government-funded centers for regular screenings to catch the condition before it becomes irreversible.
Vanguard verified the health alert, stating that “over 6,000 cases were recorded in Abia alone last year.” Premium Times added that the Federal Ministry of Health is looking to adopt the Abia model of “executive orders” to prevent avoidable blindness nationwide.
Echotitbits take:
The high prevalence in the Southeast could be linked to genetic factors or late presentation at clinics. Public health campaigns need to move beyond hospitals and into rural markets and churches to truly make a dent in these statistics.
Source: The Guardian – https://guardian.ng/features/health/south-east-leads-in-nigeria-glaucoma-cases-says-abia-health-commissioner/, March 14, 2026
Photo credit: The Guardian
