Dr. Okolo Oteri is a leading ophthalmologist in Nigeria and Head of the National Eye Health and Sensory Functions Programme at the Federal Ministry of Health. She has been actively involved in developing national guidelines for child eye health, helping ensure that both general and pediatric ophthalmologists are equipped to manage retinoblastoma and other childhood vision conditions effectively.
For Dr. Okolo, vision loss is not simply about statistics, but the real impact eye disease has on families and livelihoods
She recently met virtually with the Know The Glow team, including co-founder Megan Webber, Director of Global Outreach Helene Dameris, Africa Program Manager Ruth Ngaruiya, and Global Student Ambassador Pemije Gadimoh. The conversation bridged personal experiences and national policy, highlighting both the human and systemic dimensions of pediatric eye health in Nigeria.
Alongside colleagues, Dr. Okolo helped establish RBNet in Nigeria, a collaborative network focused on improving retinoblastoma care modeled in part on more widely recognized disease-specific programs such as those for diabetic retinopathy. While retinoblastoma is relatively rare, it remains a significant contributor to childhood ocular morbidity and mortality in the country.
Despite ongoing challenges, particularly late presentation and limited public awareness, Dr. Okolo’s work highlights both the resilience of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the urgent need for early detection and community education. In many parts of the country, children with retinoblastoma present at very advanced stages. “Quite a number of people present very late and already with life-threatening conditions,” she explained. This reality highlights the importance of structured programs that prioritize early detection, integrated care, and public awareness.
One of the ministry of health’s most recent initiatives is the development of the Neonatal Vision and Eye Screening (NENVEST) protocol. This protocol aims to embed routine eye examinations into newborn care, allowing early signs of conditions such as retinoblastoma to be detected before children formally enter the wider healthcare system. It also includes training for primary healthcare workers, who are often the first point of contact for families, especially in rural communities.
Dr. Okolo emphasized the importance of integrating eye health awareness into existing healthcare touchpoints. Some children are born outside formal health facilities, and when families first notice concerning symptoms, such as leukocoria, the “white glow” in the eye, they may not recognize the urgency. Local healthcare providers may also fail to identify it as a warning sign requiring immediate referral.These gaps can result in dangerous delays in care.
She also noted that the Federal Ministry of Health’s approach to pediatric eye care prioritizes coordination across child health services rather than stand-alone, disease-specific campaigns. While targeted awareness remains important, integrating eye health checks and messaging into routine services, such as immunization visits and child growth monitoring, allows more children and families to be reached earlier and more consistently.
As the conversation drew to a close, Dr. Okolo reflected on what led her to ophthalmology. While she did not set out with a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor, she discovered her calling during her medical training. She had seen firsthand what happens when a breadwinner loses their sight, how families are destabilized, how dreams are disrupted. That lived understanding transformed ophthalmology from a specialty into a mission.
Looking ahead, Dr. Okolo emphasized that the Federal Ministry of Health welcomes collaboration with civil society organizations and partners like Know The Glow to complement national eye health initiatives. She highlighted that awareness campaigns, such as educating families about leukocoria and providing success stories from parents or survivors,can reinforce clinical programs by encouraging early care-seeking and supporting frontline health workers in rural communities. While awareness alone cannot solve the challenges of late diagnosis and treatment abandonment, it adds a vital layer of community engagement that strengthens the overall pediatric eye care system.
