Nigeria’s struggle with preventable blindness and poor access to specialised eye care gained a boost yesterday as Skipper Eye-Q Super Speciality Eye Hospitals commissioned its fourth facility in Gwarimpa, Abuja, alongside a new mobile clinic targeted at underserved rural communities.
“The launch, attended by stakeholders in health, professional associations and the diplomatic corps, is framed not only as an expansion of a private hospital group but also as a response to the country’s pressing eye health needs. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 1 million Nigerians are blind, while 80 per cent of cases are preventable with timely intervention” Jitender Sachdeva, Group president.
Dr. Temitope Tijani, the first Nigerian ophthalmologist to join the hospital nine years ago, the milestone was a personal journey that mirrors broader sectoral gains. She recalled initial scepticism but said the partnership has yielded skills transfer, confidence, and opportunities for Nigerian specialists.
“Today, we are four specialised doctors delivering world-class eye care. Patients come from across Nigeria to seek treatment. The dream of practising as a surgeon here at home, without patients having to fly abroad, is being realised,” she said.
“Skipper’s expansion underscores the role of private investment in bridging Nigeria’s health infrastructure gaps. Dr. Obinna Awiaka, Registrar/CEO of the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN), represented by Dr. Okafor Igbo, noted that the hospital had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Board to prioritise local content and skills development.
Soumya Goel the chief project manager for the mobile eye clinic and business head in an exclusive said that “The mobile clinic serves as a reach for the unreachable. It helps to bridge the gap in Nigerias eye health. Which has enabled the clinic reach most rural areas”.
The Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) echoed the sentiment. Dr. Chimezirim Anderson, its president, urged that services be extended further into rural areas, where untreated eye diseases often lead to avoidable blindness.
Rajat Goel Co-founder and CEO of Skipper Eye-Q, says, its designed to fill that gap. Since its rollout earlier this year, it has screened nearly 3,000 people, provided 3,000 free eyeglasses, and reached security operatives, ministry staff, and residents in rural communities through the mobile clinic. Experts at the event agreed that innovations such as mobile clinics could become an important model for Nigeria’s healthcare policy, offering decentralised, community-based solutions to bridge inequities in access.
Dr. Ajay Sharma, CMD and Founder in his remarks said “Skipper Eye-Q, which began operations in Nigeria in 2016, now has four branches across Lagos and Abuja. Beyond its expansion plans in Nigeria and West Africa, the hospital group says it remains committed to “human care, not profit.” As Nigeria continues to battle shortages in specialised healthcare and the rising cost of medical tourism, stakeholders at the inauguration called for policies that encourage similar models of investment, where world-class care is matched with local workforce development and rural outreach.
