The Federation of Nigerian Societies for the Blind (FNSB) has lamented the lack of rehabilitation facilities for the visually impaired in Nigeria, leaving thousands unable to find employment. According to The Guardian Nigeria News, the FNSB highlighted the dire situation during a recent meeting, stating that the lack of rehabilitation services has hindered the integration of visually impaired individuals into the workforce.
‘The lack of rehabilitation services is a major issue that prevents visually impaired Nigerians from gaining employment and leading independent lives,’ said FNSB President, Mrs. Aisha Aliyu. ‘We urgently need more rehabilitation centers across the country to address this problem.’
The Punch Newspapers also reported on the issue, quoting FNSB as stating that thousands of visually impaired Nigerians are unable to find jobs due to the lack of rehabilitation facilities.
The FNSB’s concerns come as the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are over 2.2 million visually impaired individuals in Nigeria, with the majority living in rural areas where access to healthcare services is limited.
‘The lack of access to rehabilitation services is a major issue for the visually impaired in Nigeria,’ said Dr. Oyebanji Adeniran, a consultant ophthalmologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. ‘Without rehabilitation, these individuals are unable to develop the skills necessary to live independently and find employment.’
The FNSB has called on the Nigerian government to take action to address the issue by increasing funding for rehabilitation services and building more rehabilitation centers across the country.
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