Residents of Itire-Ikate LCDA and surrounding areas turned out in large numbers to participate in the ongoing free eye surgery exercise, organized by the NNPC Foundation, which aims to benefit at least 1,000 individuals.
The two-day free cataract extraction surgeries, which commenced today at the council secretariat, are being held simultaneously at Ikeja Local Government Area and Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos.
The initiative, tagged “Come and Have Your Sight Restored,” kicked off at three centers within the Lagos metropolis on January 7 and is scheduled to end on January 14.
Our correspondent reports that many elderly beneficiaries of the exercise were brought to the venue at Itire-Ikate by family members and caregivers.
One of the beneficiaries, 76-year-old Alhaji Wasiu Oyebanji, expressed his excitement that help had finally come after suffering from cataracts for over two decades without the financial means to pay for the surgery.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Samson Oluwole, commended the NNPC Foundation for its humanitarian gesture and appealed to other corporate organizations to follow suit to ensure more Nigerians benefit from such initiatives.
On her part, Mrs. Omolara Folashade, who turned 63 in December last year, expressed hope that the NNPC Foundation would sustain the free medical outreach, describing it as a call to action for the government to prioritize citizens’ health.
Speaking at the event, the team lead of the medical outreach, Dr. Bolanle Balogun, highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to restoring vision and fulfilling its corporate social responsibility by putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians.
She disclosed that about 150 cataract extraction surgeries have been successfully performed in Lagos, adding that similar exercises are currently ongoing in Abeokuta and other parts of the Southwest. Dr. Balogun assured that the Foundation is determined to reach as many people as possible through the outreach.
According to her, “Everyone deserves to have God-given vision. As people age, their vision begins to deteriorate. Unfortunately, many cannot afford the cost of treatment.”
Dr. Balogun, who is also a consultant, stressed the need for the government to ensure access to eye care while commending the Lagos State Government for its remarkable achievements in the health sector.
She recalled being part of the team that conducted the Jigi Bola exercise in Lagos during Governor Tinubu’s administration and acknowledged the support of organizations like Rotary, Lions Clubs, and South Korea in assisting those in need.
Dr. Balogun concluded by advocating for the government to heavily subsidize the cost of surgeries and eyeglasses to help more people suffering from cataracts.
