The Kebbi State government has announced plans to provide free eye treatment to 5,000 patients across all 21 local government areas of the state.
The five-day exercise is being carried out in partnership with the Saudi-based World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) and the Nasara Foundation.
The Commissioner for Health, Isma’il Augie, disclosed this on Sunday after inspecting the exercise at the Kebbi State Teaching Hospital, Kalgo. He said the programme includes 1,000 surgeries, 3,000 eye treatments, and the distribution of 1,000 eyeglasses.
Augie described the exercise as “special” and expressed satisfaction with the progress so far.
“We are targeting 5,000 beneficiaries. We thank Governor Nasir Idris and his wife, Zainab-Nasara Nasir Idris, whose foundation, in collaboration with the state government, partnered to achieve this milestone. The state government is complementing the efforts of the foreign medical team by shouldering 50 per cent of the entire exercise,” he said.
He added that patients participating in the exercise would receive three free meals daily for the duration of the programme to ease their challenges.
Dr. Hisham Muhammad, Team Lead and Country Director of WAMY, said over 500 patients had been attended to on the first day, including 54 operations. He noted that 100 eyeglasses were issued and medicines supplied to 336 patients.
“By the grace of Almighty God, more are coming. Our target is to perform 1,000 operations, issue 600 glasses, and provide medications to over 2,000 patients,” he stated.
Imran Usman, Special Adviser to the state governor on Religious Affairs, praised the initiative and encouraged residents with eye problems to take advantage of the opportunity.
“I urge our people with eye-related issues to come forward for free treatment. I commend the efforts of the state governor, his wife, and WAMY for joining forces to offer this critical service,” he said.
