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Prof. Fatima Kyari, a distinguished Nigerian ophthalmologist and ophthalmic epidemiologist, has been appointed as the Africa Region Chair for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). This prestigious role underscores her longstanding commitment to advancing eye health across the African continent.
Prof. Kyari’s career spans over three decades, during which she has made significant contributions to clinical ophthalmology, eye and vision research, public health, medical education, and health professions regulation. Currently, she serves as the Registrar/CEO of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), overseeing medical education standards, professional ethics, and health workforce development.
Her expertise in glaucoma is particularly notable. Prof. Kyari led the development of the first-ever Glaucoma Toolkit for Sub-Saharan Africa, a collaborative effort aimed at enhancing glaucoma care in the region . She also established the Glaucoma Clinical and Research Network (Glaucoma-NET), which brings together patients, clinicians, researchers, NGOs, and Ministries of Health to address the high levels of irreversible blindness due to glaucoma in low-income countries.
Prof. Kyari’s leadership will focus on engaging African governments to reaffirm and enhance their commitments to eye health. This involves advocating for the integration of eye health into national health policies and ensuring alignment with the 2030 In Sight strategy. By leveraging platforms like the Global Summit, she aims to catalyze political will and secure commitments that translate into actionable policies and resource allocation.
Prof. Kyari’s appointment reflects her collaborative approach to leadership. She has been involved in international policy development forums, including serving as the lead author of the Commonwealth policy brief on “A sustainable approach to control avoidable blindness and vision loss” as well as being a member of the editorial committee of WHO’s “World Report on Vision”. Her work emphasizes the importance of teamwork, innovation, and accountability in achieving sustainable improvements in eye health.
With Prof. Kyari at the helm, the IAPB Africa Region is set to make significant strides in addressing the challenges of avoidable blindness and vision impairment. Her leadership promises to inspire a new era of collaboration and progress in eye health across Africa.
