By Lateef Odegbenle
Residents of Itire-Ikate LCDA and environs have turned out in large numbers to participate in the ongoing free Eye Surgery exercise for at least one thousand beneficiaries organised by the NNPC Foundation.
The two-day free Cataract Extraction surgeries which kicked off Thursday at the council secretariat is holding simultaneously in Ikeja Local Government Area and Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos.
Most of the aged beneficiaries of the exercise tagged “Come and Have your Sight Restored” were brought to the venue at Itire-Ikate by family members and caregivers.
One of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Wasiu Oyebanji who is 76 years old was excited that help has finally come his way after suffering from Cataract for over two decades without having the money to pay for the Surgery.
Another beneficiary, Mr. Samson Oluwole commended the NNPC Foundation for the humanitarian gesture while appealing to other corporate bodies to follow suit towards ensuring that more Nigerians benefit from the exercise.
On her part, Mrs Omolara Folashade who turned 63 years in December last year expressed hope that the NNPC Foundation will sustain the free Medical outreach saying that it was a call to action on government to prioritise the health of the citizenry.
The Team lead of the Medical outreach, Dr. Bolanle Balogun said that it was in fulfilment of the desire to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians by restoring the sight and commitment to the corporate social responsibility of the NNPC.
She disclosed that about 150 Cataract Extraction surgeries have been successfully performed in Lagos adding that similar exercise is currently ongoing in Abeokuta, other parts of Southwest assuring that the Foundation is determined to reach as many as they could through the outreach.
According to her; “Everybody needs to have vision as God’s given. As people are ageing, vision begins to deteriorate. Unfortunately, many people cannot afford to pay for the cost of treatment”.
Dr. Balogun who is also a Consultant stressed the need for government to ensure people have access to eye care but quick to commend the Lagos State Government for the remarkable Scorecards in the health sector.
She recalled that she was part of the team that conducted Jigi Bola exercise in Lagos when Governor Tinubu was in power noting that the Rotary and Lions Clubs as well as South Korea have assisted many in need.
Dr. Balogun called on government to subsidize the cost of surgery and eye glasses in order to help more people suffering from Cataract.
