The Kaduna State Government in collaboration with Qatar Charity Group has commenced a free medical outreach across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Bello-Jamo Yusuf disclosed this during the inauguration of the exercise for zone 1, in Zaria on Tuesday.
He said that the eye surgeries would be conducted on over 3,600 patients suffering from cataract and other eye related defects while others would be provided with drugs.
Yusuf said that the exercise was zoned according to the existing senatorial districts.
“The exercise will be conducted free of charge and I call on all those suffering from eye defects to avail themselves for the treatment.
“The exercise is targeting 3600 beneficiaries, of which 600 will be cataract and other minor eye surgeries while 3000 will be other outpatient consultations.
“This is harmattan season and there are a lot of eye conditions from conjunctivitis to other types of allergic eye conditions attributable to fumes and dust,” he said.
Yusuf explained that the state government has attached much importance to health issues as all organs of the body were crucial to human survival but eyes were exceptional hence the exercise.
He added that the state government would conduct more of such exercises towards addressing other health challenges to ensure that healthcare services were brought to the doorsteps of the people.
Yusuf said that the state was not unaware of the challenges associated with the high cost of transportation and it would do something about it.
The Project Officer, Qatar Charity Group, Mr Simon Chuduso said the organisation would be in Gambo Sawaba Memorial General Hospital Zaria for the next four to five days for the exercise.
Chudoso said besides the medical outreach programme, the group was working with the state government on housing and construction of boreholes, among others.
A beneficiary, Halima Yakubu, a resident of Ban-Zazzau Area, Zaria, lauded the sponsors of the programme, saying that she was given glasses which had significantly improved her sight.
Another beneficiary, Musa Muhammed, who came from Kaduna to Zaria also commended the gesture, stating that he was issued with reflective glasses which had also improved his sight.
NAN
