Lomé, October 18, 2026 -(©AfreePress)– Poor eyesight can undermine learning, restrict independence and jeopardise future opportunities. Recognising these far-reaching consequences, Togo’s National Eye Health Programme (PNSO) and Compassion International Togo are stepping up efforts to improve access to eye care for children, adolescents and young people. To mark World Sight Day, observed in Lomé on October 17, the two partners, working alongside partner churches in the Lomé, Zio Sud and Golfe Ouest clusters, distributed 250 corrective lenses free of charge to beneficiaries with vision problems.
Organised by Compassion International Togo, the initiative builds on the global Love Your Eyes campaign, which encourages people everywhere to make eye health a priority. Beyond providing optical correction, the programme aims to promote early screening, improve access to treatment and prevent the consequences of uncorrected visual impairment.
Eye Health: An Essential Asset for Education
Representing Compassion International Togo’s National Director, the organisation’s Programme Manager, Dr Viwatin AMEDEGNATO, highlighted the often-underestimated impact of vision problems on children’s development.
“A child cannot fully develop their potential when their health is compromised. Vision plays an essential role in learning,” she said, stressing that eye health must be recognised as a fundamental component of a child’s educational journey.
In her view, impaired vision goes far beyond physical discomfort. It can affect concentration, reduce classroom participation, make learning more difficult and ultimately limit the future prospects of affected young people.
To illustrate the scale of the challenge, the programme manager referred to international estimates indicating that millions of children live with uncorrected refractive errors, while hundreds of millions experience vision problems requiring care. She also underscored the significant toll that uncorrected visual impairment can take on learning outcomes.
In Togo, the situation remains a concern. Although detailed national data are limited, eye-care professionals regularly encounter children in schools and communities whose visual difficulties go undetected for years, often after they have already begun to affect their academic performance.
“This reality fully justifies the efforts being made to promote early screening and raise awareness among the public,” she said, calling for greater involvement from families, communities and healthcare professionals.
15,000 Young People Targeted for Screening
Beyond the distribution of corrective lenses, the initiative seeks to establish prevention and treatment of vision disorders as part of a sustained effort. The project has also trained 42 facilitators in the Golfe Ouest cluster to support awareness-raising activities within their communities.
For Dr Yawo PREMPE Sefofo, Coordinator of the National Eye Health Programme, the initiative marks an important milestone in addressing eye disorders among children, adolescents and young adults.
He explained that technical support from the PNSO had helped identify numerous beneficiaries requiring corrective lenses and appropriate follow-up care. The effort forms part of a screening project targeting 15,000 adolescents and young people attending 62 partner churches.
“Today, we are taking another important step by moving from screening to concrete action through the distribution of prescribed corrective lenses and by educating families on the importance of wearing them regularly,” he said.
The transition from screening to effective treatment is a major challenge in the fight against visual impairment. Identifying a problem is only the first step; those affected must also be able to access the prescribed corrective devices and receive appropriate follow-up care.
Beneficiaries Find Relief and Renewed Hope
The distribution of corrective lenses was one of the highlights of the event. For beneficiaries, the glasses represent far more than an optical aid: they offer the prospect of greater independence and a less restrictive daily life.
AGBETI Afi Pauline, a student at the University of Lomé, expressed her relief after receiving her corrective lenses. She described the difficulties she had experienced, particularly when moving around outdoors in bright sunlight.
“Before, I could not go out in the sun. My vision would go dark, and I was unable to walk. Now, thanks to Compassion International Togo, I can be out in the sun and speak to you without difficulty,” she said joyfully.
Her testimony illustrates the tangible impact of the partners’ intervention. Behind every successful vision correction lies the possibility of greater freedom of movement, fuller participation in everyday activities and improved conditions for pursuing an education.
Prevention Rather Than Enduring the Consequences
Awareness-raising also featured prominently in the celebration. A panel discussion brought together ophthalmologist Dr Mawuli SANTOS, PNSO Coordinator Dr Yawo PREMPE Sefofo and Ms Lauretta AMEKE to discuss vision disorders, their symptoms and the appropriate steps to take when unusual signs appear.
Addressing an audience made up largely of young people, the panellists stressed the importance of recognising warning signs, taking vision problems seriously and seeking advice from qualified healthcare professionals. Consulting an appropriate health facility remains essential to obtaining an accurate diagnosis, receiving suitable treatment and preventing complications that could permanently impair eyesight.
Through this initiative, the PNSO and Compassion International Togo are seeking to reinforce the message that eye health must not be overlooked. At a time when vision problems can remain undetected for years, early screening, access to treatment and greater awareness among families are indispensable tools for protecting sight.
For children and adolescents, seeing better also means learning more effectively, becoming more independent and gaining a stronger chance to build a brighter future.
René BLEWOUSSI
