ABSTRACT
Settings and Aim: The World Health Organization launched in 1999 an initiative to eliminate the global avoidable blindness and prevent the projected doubling of avoidable visual impairment between 1990 and 2020 (Vision 2020: The Right to Sight). The World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted resolutions WHA 59.25; WHA 56.26 urging member states to adopt the Vision 2020 principles. More than 90 nongovernmental development organizations; agencies; and institutions; together with a number of major corporations; are now working together in this global partnership. Two neighboring states in North Western Nigeria provide eye care services using different approaches; one state uses the principles of Vision 2020; the other uses a different strategy. The aim of the study was to assess awareness and utilization of eye care services in two Nigerian states. Design: A population-based cross-sectional interview of households was conducted in two neighboring states using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21 and a P 0.05 was considered as significant. Findings: Participation rate was 97 in the two states. The population in the Vision 2020-compliant state were significantly more aware about general eye care services (80 vs. 44; P 0.0005); had less proportion of households unaware of any eye care service (55 vs. 69; P 0.0005); and have a significantly higher felt the need to utilize eye care services (47 vs. 5.9; P 0.0005). The service utilization rate was however low in the two states. Conclusion: The principles of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight is adaptable to different cultures/societies and has demonstrated a potential to increase awareness and a felt need for eye care in poor resource settings