No fewer than 18,000 vulnerable patients with various eye ailments have received free eye care services and surgeries from the Mangal Foundation since 2016.
A board member of the foundation, Mr Hussaini Kabir, disclosed this on Friday at the commencement of the 2025 last-quarter eye surgery exercise in Katsina State.
Kabir said about 7,000 beneficiaries were recorded in 2025, cutting across Katsina State, neighboring states and parts of the Niger Republic.
He explained that screening for the current exercise began two weeks ago, during which many patients received free drugs and medicated eyeglasses.
Kabir added that patients who required surgery had their hospital bills fully covered, noting that about 2,000 people were screened in the ongoing exercise.
He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare as part of its corporate social responsibility.
“Our aim is to complement government efforts and reduce the burden of healthcare costs on the most vulnerable members of society,” Kabir said.
An ophthalmologist involved in the exercise, Dr Ahmad Hamza, said many of the patients were diagnosed with cataracts and glaucoma, conditions that often require surgical intervention.
He stressed the importance of regular eye check-ups, noting that early detection could prevent permanent vision loss caused by silent diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.
One of the beneficiaries, Yusufa Usman, said he had suffered vision problems for over two years but could not afford surgery.
“For two years, I could not see clearly. Today, I have undergone surgery, and I am hopeful that my sight will be restored,” Usman said.
Another beneficiary, Aisha Muntari, said she had nearly lost hope before learning about the intervention and expressed confidence that her vision would soon improve.
