Good eyesight is essential for daily life, mobility, and overall well-being. Yet globally, more than 2.2 billion people suffer from vision impairment or blindness, with many cases being preventable. In Nigeria alone, over 24 million people live with vision loss, including 1.3 million who are blind. Common causes include cataracts, glaucoma, refractive errors, and diabetic retinopathy.
By Bashir Rabe Mani
A lifeline for the vulnerable
Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko’s free eye care programme is a beacon of hope for many battling avoidable blindness. As a former Governor of Sokoto State and now a serving Senator, Wamakko has sustained this humanitarian intervention for years—restoring vision to thousands of indigent citizens within and beyond Sokoto State.
“Indeed, he is a Senator without borders.”
The 2025 eye care programme kicks off
Through the Aliyu Magatakarda Foundation, Senator Wamakko launched the 2025 edition of his free community eye care initiative in partnership with Vision Savers Eye Care Centre. This year, 5,000 beneficiaries are targeted across Sokoto State, building on a programme that has treated thousands since 2017.
Representing the Senator, Permanent Secretary Almustapha Abubakar Alkali flagged off the exercise, reaffirming the Senator’s dedication to public health and social justice.
“Sight is a blessing from God”
Speaking during the launch, Dr. Kamal S. Umar, Chairman of Vision Savers Eye Care Centre, urged beneficiaries to appreciate the Senator’s effort:
“Good vision is a divine blessing. Senator Wamakko’s initiative is saving lives and restoring dignity.”
The Specialist Hospital Sokoto will serve as the primary centre for surgeries and follow-up care.
Community gratitude and lasting impact
The response from beneficiaries was overwhelmingly positive, with many offering prayers and heartfelt appreciation for the Senator’s commitment.
As Bashar Abubakar MC, S.A. Media to the Senator, noted:
“This is an invaluable gesture that the lawmaker has sustained for ages… restoring hope for the hitherto hapless and hopeless indigents.”
A legacy of compassion
Senator Wamakko’s eye care programme is more than a health intervention—it is a powerful expression of compassion and community service. His enduring commitment to the well-being of the less privileged cements his legacy as a leader who not only sees problems but helps others see again—literally and figuratively.
Mani is a Kaduna-based journalist and public affairs commentator.
