The Optometry Education Project is a collaborative initiative between Optometry Giving Sight (OGS), Charis Vision and Health Mission (CharisHealth), and Arthur Jarvis University (AJU) in Cross River State, Nigeria. The project’s primary goal is to strengthen optometry training at AJU by providing ophthalmic equipment and enhancing capacity building. This intervention addresses an acute shortage of qualified optometrists in several Nigerian states, including Cross River, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Ebonyi, which have a collective population of approximately 25 million people.

The partnership aims to increase the number of qualified optometrists at AJU to address regional eye health challenges , especially in communities where cultural beliefs or stigma deter people from seeking care. The project is titled “The Optometry Education Project” and is scheduled to start on 1/10/2025 and end on 30/09/2026.

Key milestones for the project include establishing an equipped and functioning optometric clinic at AJU, improving educational proficiency by October 2028, increasing the quality of eye care services, and increasing the proportion of referred persons attending the clinic. The project is expected to benefit an estimated 8,000 individuals and is also meant to advance eye health research and enhance the public’s understanding of optometry’s role.

Sustainability is planned through strategies like implementing ongoing public awareness campaigns , upgrading the AJU Hospital facility to provide practical experience and increase enrollment, and securing local government support for infrastructure and community mobilization for outreach and referrals.