1,000 persons to benefit from NNPC Foundation cataract surgery
By Yetunde Fatungase
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Foundation has begun a free cataract extraction surgery programme for 1,000 individuals across states in the South-West region.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that screening for the surgeries began on Dec. 16, 2024, while the procedures officially started on Monday.
Speaking with NAN, Dr Anne Amugo, the lead consultant physician to the foundation, said that the initiative was intended to give back to society.
Amugo stated that no fewer than 100 individuals had been scheduled for surgery on Monday at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta.
He said that surgeries would be performed at the FMC Abeokuta, Likosi Health center, Mosimi, FMC Joga and FMC Ajebo, all in Ogun.
The four centres, she said, would cater to beneficiaries from the South-West states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.
“Our team is working together to bring succour to Nigerians.
“Blindness brings darkness to a person’s life but the hope of restoring light is treasure you can’t imagine.
“We have commenced the surgeries proper today, but we’ll have the formal flag off on Wednesday,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr Peter Abikoye, a Consultant Ophthalmologist, FMC Abeokuta, commended the initiative, saying “it is worthy of emulation.”
He described it as a Christmas and New Year gift for the elderly.
Abikoye said that surgeries had been performed on 50 persons while assuring that the other 50 would be completed before the end of work on Monday.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with NAN appreciated the foundation for finding it worthy to bless them with the initiative.
Mrs Omolayo Tijani, a teacher, expressed her happiness for benefiting from the free surgery.
Tijani said she had undergone screening in December 2024 and was happy to have had the surgery done on Monday morning.
Another beneficiary, Mr Isaac Ayanwale, expressed deep gratitude to the organisers, stating that he had been struggling to raise money for his cataract surgery before learning about the initiative on the radio.
He expressed hope of regaining his sight when he visited the hospital on Tuesday to have the plaster removed from his eye. (NAN)
Edited by Bayo Sekoni
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