Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Blindness Prevention Programme in North East Nigeria

Rigorous monitoring and evaluation of the National Blindness Prevention Programme is essential for accountability, learning, and evidence-based adaptation of programme strategies in the complex and conflict-affected North East Nigeria context. This study evaluates the monitoring and evaluation systems of the National Blindness Prevention Programme in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States. A mixed-methods evaluation will be conducted using programme document review, stakeholder surveys with programme coordinators and facility eye care focal persons, and a key indicator performance analysis against national targets. Indicators assessed will include cataract surgical rate, trachoma elimination indicators, vitamin A supplementation coverage, proportion of primary health centres with functioning visual acuity testing capacity, and eye care workforce density ratios. Contextual challenges specific to the North East, including security-related displacement, facility destruction, and interrupted programme implementation, will be systematically documented. Monitoring and evaluation capacity in Nigerian public health programmes is broadly weak, with data collection often irregular and reporting unreliable. This study provides a structured M and E performance assessment for the North East zone and identifies systemic capacity gaps. Recommendations will address training of state M and E officers in eye care indicator tracking, development of simplified reporting tools for programme facilities, and establishment of annual programme review meetings with standardised outcome reporting. A functioning M and E system is the backbone of a high-performing national blindness prevention programme. Keywords: monitoring and evaluation, blindness prevention, North East Nigeria, programme performance, national eye health