Health
PT HEALTH WATCH: Delayed treatment of childhood cataracts can lead to irreversible vision loss
Cataracts are often associated with ageing, but eye specialists say children can also develop the condition, sometimes from birth, with delayed diagnosis capable of causing permanent vision loss.
A cataract occurs when the eye’s natural lens, which is normally clear, becomes cloudy. This prevents light from passing properly into the eye, resulting in blurred or reduced vision.
Although the condition is more common among older adults, experts say it can also affect babies and children.
Experts warn that poor awareness, excessive screen exposure, self-medication and late hospital visits are worsening eye problems among children, even as many parents wrongly believe children are “too young” to have serious eye conditions.
Studies reveal that childhood cataract contributes between 7.4 and 15.3 per cent of childhood blindness globally, with delayed diagnosis and treatment remaining a major challenge in developing countries like Nigeria.
The study warned that many children are brought to hospitals after the critical stage of visual development, increasing the risk of irreversible blindness even after treatment.
According to a report on paediatric eye care in Nigeria published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), childhood blindness accounts for between five and 10 per cent of the country’s blindness burden, with nearly 70 per cent of cases considered preventable or treatable if detected early.
The report identified childhood cataract as one of the leading causes of avoidable blindness among Nigerian children, while also highlighting shortages of specialised paediatric eye care services across the country.
Speaking with PT Health Watch, Samuel Osayamen, a senior ophthalmologist, said childhood cataracts are not uncommon and can significantly affect a child’s vision and brain development if left untreated.
Causes beyond ageing
Mr Osayamen explained that cataracts in children may be congenital, meaning present at birth, or acquired later due to injuries, medications, infections or underlying medical conditions.
He said infections during pregnancy, including rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis and cytomegalovirus, can affect unborn babies and increase the risk of congenital cataracts.
“If these infections are left untreated, they could affect the baby and eventually lead to congenital cataracts when the child is born,” he said.
Mr Osayamen noted that genetics also play a significant role in some childhood cataract cases.
According to him, certain genetic mutations and inherited conditions can cause changes in the eye’s lens, resulting in cloudy vision.
He added that maternal use of some medications, such as tetracycline, diabetes during pregnancy, birth injuries, trauma and inflammatory conditions may also contribute to the development of cataracts in children.
Mr Osayamen further warned that traumatic cataracts are becoming increasingly common among children due to domestic accidents and unsafe play.
“We have had cases where children playing at home accidentally injured one another in the eye, leading to traumatic cataracts,” he said.
Signs parents should watch for
Mr Osayamen expressed concern about excessive screen exposure among toddlers and young children, warning that prolonged use of tablets and mobile phones may contribute to vision problems and developmental challenges.
“Some parents give babies tablets for long hours just to keep them occupied. In the long run, it may cause more harm than good,” he said.
He also cautioned against self-medication, noting that inappropriate treatment could lead to eye complications.
The specialist advised parents to prioritise regular eye examinations, ensure proper nutrition and seek medical attention promptly whenever unusual changes in their children’s vision are noticed.
He noted that many children may not complain about poor eyesight, making parental observation particularly important.
According to him, warning signs may include moving unusually close to television screens, difficulty following light or objects, poor eye contact, a whitish appearance in the eye, or difficulty recognising objects.
“When your child constantly moves very close to the television, it could mean the child is not seeing properly,” he said.
Unlike adults, he explained, children often adapt quietly to poor vision, making early detection more difficult.
Risk of permanent damage
Mr Osayamen warned that untreated cataracts can permanently affect the connection between the eyes and the brain during a child’s development.
“One of the worst complications is amblyopia, also called lazy eye. The eye gradually becomes used to not seeing clearly and, later, nothing can reverse it,” he said.
He explained that some children may also develop strabismus, commonly known as squint, in which the eyes become misaligned because the brain begins to ignore the weaker eye.
READ ALSO: FCTA targets 1.5 million children for MNCH Week vaccination drive
He added that untreated cataracts may also lead to uncontrolled eye movements known as nystagmus, commonly referred to as “dancing eyes”.
On the use of glasses at an early age, Mr Osayamen said many children wear them because of refractive errors such as short-sightedness or long-sightedness, which may be hereditary.
He stressed that wearing glasses from an early age should not be viewed as abnormal or harmful.
“Glasses help the child to see clearly and support proper eye development. They do not automatically remove the condition causing the poor vision,” he said.
Health
Health Review: Ebola case, child malnutrition, medicine security, other developments that shaped October
October brought major developments across Nigeria’s health sector, with the confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja prompting renewed disease surveillance, contact tracing and emergency response measures.
The month also saw growing concerns over Nigeria’s dependence on imported pharmaceutical ingredients, child malnutrition and challenges affecting maternal and child healthcare.
Beyond Nigeria, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continued to raise concerns about regional health security.
PREMIUM TIMES reviews some of the major health developments that shaped October.
Nigeria confirms first Ebola case in over a decade
Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case since 2014 on 20 October, involving a 42-year-old Ugandan-born woman living in Abuja who recently returned from Uganda.
The confirmation prompted contact tracing, heightened surveillance and infection prevention measures across healthcare facilities.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) initially identified 44 close contacts, with the number increasing as investigations continued.
Ebola patient evacuated to Switzerland
Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola patient and her husband were medically evacuated to Switzerland on 26 October after the patient received treatment in isolation in Abuja.
The patient was transferred to Geneva University Hospitals, while her husband was placed in isolation at University Hospital Zurich.
Following the evacuation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Nigeria had no active confirmed Ebola case, although surveillance and monitoring of exposed contacts continued.
NCDC expands health declarations for international travellers
The NCDC expanded the health declaration requirement to all international travellers after confirming Ebola in Abuja.
The agency said the measure was intended to strengthen screening at points of entry and support the early identification of potential infections.
It also urged healthcare facilities to isolate suspected cases promptly and strengthen infection prevention measures.
Suspected Ebola cases in Adamawa test negative
Two suspected Ebola cases identified in Adamawa State tested negative after two rounds of laboratory testing, the NCDC announced on 31 October.
The suspected cases involved a 34-year-old pilot and his wife, a medical doctor, who were admitted to an isolation facility at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital in Yola after developing symptoms suggestive of Ebola.
The agency said the Abuja case remained Nigeria’s only laboratory-confirmed Ebola infection during the outbreak.
FG clarifies N10 billion emergency disease response funding
The NCDC said the N10 billion emergency intervention fund approved by the federal government was intended to strengthen preparedness and response to Ebola, Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
The agency explained that the funding would support surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, protective equipment, emergency operations and rehabilitation of isolation facilities.
The clarification came amid questions over how the emergency allocation was being utilised following the confirmation of Ebola in Abuja.
Child malnutrition admissions rise in North-east
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported an 18 per cent increase in malnutrition admissions at 10 supported health facilities in North-east Nigeria.
The facilities recorded nearly 20,000 admissions between January and September 2026, compared with about 17,000 during the same period in 2025.
Children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers were among those most affected, highlighting the continuing impact of insecurity and food shortages on vulnerable communities.
FG partners US foundation to mobilise $1 billion against malnutrition
The federal government announced a partnership with the US-based Operation End Starvation initiative to mobilise more than $1 billion to address child malnutrition and starvation-related deaths across sub-Saharan Africa.
Nigeria was identified as a priority country under the initiative, which aims to mobilise funding over two years.
The government said the partnership would complement existing interventions addressing hunger and acute malnutrition among children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
Imported drug ingredients raise medicine security concerns
Health and pharmaceutical stakeholders warned that Nigeria’s dependence on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) could undermine medicine security and expose the country to global supply disruptions.
At a meeting organised by Nigeria Health Watch in partnership with the World Bank Group, stakeholders called for increased domestic production of essential pharmaceutical ingredients.
They identified inadequate infrastructure, unreliable electricity, financing constraints and regulatory challenges as major barriers to local manufacturing.
WHO warns of widespread undiagnosed diabetes in Africa
The WHO raised concerns over the growing diabetes burden in Africa, warning that about 75 per cent of people living with the condition in the region remain undiagnosed.
The organisation said an estimated 24.6 million adults aged between 20 and 79 were living with diabetes in the African region.
The findings renewed concerns about limited screening, delayed diagnosis and access to treatment for non-communicable diseases.
Ebola outbreak worsens in DR Congo
The Ebola outbreak in the DRC continued to spread during October, with confirmed cases surpassing 10,000 and deaths approaching 5,000.
The WHO reported 10,274 confirmed cases and 4,992 deaths in the country as of 28 October.
The outbreak, which also affected other African countries, intensified concerns about cross-border transmission, surveillance capacity and regional preparedness.
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Health
EXCLUSIVE: Ebola: 34-year-old pilot, wife identified as suspected cases who tested negative in North-east Nigeria
A 34-year-old pilot and his wife, a medical doctor, were the two people investigated for suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Adamawa State after developing symptoms including fever, vomiting, fatigue, headache, cough, bleeding gums and nosebleeds.
Although Nigerian officials said two suspected Ebola cases were being investigated in the state and eventually turned negative, their identities were not disclosed. PREMIUM TIMES can now disclose the officials’ identities, though we are redacting their names.
An internal memo from the Adamawa State Ministry of Health and Human Services, obtained exclusively by PREMIUM TIMES, said the couple were admitted to the isolation centre of the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, on 29 October.
The memo, dated 30 October 2026 and signed by the State Epidemiologist, Jones Kadabiyu, said the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) received the report at 6:45 a.m. following a clinician’s report from MAUTH.
The development came as health authorities intensified surveillance following Nigeria’s confirmation of its first Ebola case in the current outbreak.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had on Saturday announced that two suspected Ebola cases had been identified in the North-east, but did not initially disclose the state where the cases were detected.
However, the agency later confirmed that the two suspected cases were in Adamawa, noting that the laboratory tests on samples from both individuals were negative for Ebola after two rounds of testing.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Jide Idris, the NCDC said it was working with the Adamawa State government to investigate the suspected cases.
The agency said it isolated the two individuals and immediately activated public health measures while collecting samples for laboratory testing.
“Fortunately, the samples turned out negative for EBV after two rounds of testing,” Mr Idris said.
The NCDC said there is currently no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case in Adamawa State, adding that the previously confirmed case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) remains the only confirmed case in Nigeria.
What PREMIUM TIMES learnt
According to the memo, the pilot developed symptoms on 13 October, while his wife developed similar symptoms on 25 October.
The names of the two patients are contained in the documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES. However, this newspaper is withholding their identities to protect their privacy.
A preliminary report dated 31 October from Yola North Local Government Area (LGA), Adamawa State, said the pilot travelled to Kenya “for personal reasons” on 14 October and returned to Nigeria on 25 October. It said he had developed a fever before his trip and was treated for malaria.
“Prior to his departure, he reportedly developed a fever on 13 October 2026 and was treated for malaria. He reportedly remained well while in Kenya,” it noted.
However, upon returning to Yola, he developed symptoms including fever, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, headache, cough, bleeding gums and nosebleeds. His wife subsequently developed similar symptoms after caring for him at home.
They were both admitted at the MAUTH isolation centre.
The state health authorities collected samples from both patients on 30 October and transported them to the National Reference Laboratory for testing, according to the report.
Contacts traced
The memo report said 18 contacts had been identified, traced and line-listed, while the preliminary report dated 31 October put the number at 17.
The PHEOC also notified the State Rapid Response Team, the State NCDC office, Local Government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF.
The state health authorities recommended continued contact tracing, infection prevention and control measures, enhanced surveillance and coordination with relevant authorities.
The NCDC has urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.
It also advised people who develop symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, particularly after a relevant exposure, to seek immediate medical attention.
READ ALSO: Ebola: Saudi Arabia suspends travel to Kenya, halts visa issuance
Ebola outbreak
Nigeria is one of five countries that have detected Bundibugyo virus disease during the current outbreak, which began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in May.
The outbreak has remained concentrated in the DRC but has spread beyond the country.
Nigeria’s first confirmed case of Ebola in 2026 was a woman who travelled from Uganda to Abuja and tested positive on 20 October. She was subsequently medically evacuated to Switzerland for continued treatment.
The NCDC’s latest situation report said 62 contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed case had been identified and were being monitored.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, had said genomic analysis showed that the virus detected in the Nigerian patient was closely related to the strain identified in Kenya’s first imported case. He, however, said the finding did not establish that the Nigerian patient was infected in Kenya.
WHO’s latest update reported 10,274 confirmed cases and 4,992 deaths in the DRC as of 28 October. Kenya had recorded nine confirmed cases and two deaths, while Nigeria had one confirmed case at the time of the update.
Ebola is a viral disease that can cause severe illness and spreads mainly through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person.
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