ASHENEWS reports that the Sani Bello Foundation in partnership with Graceland Healthcare Development Foundation have provided free surgeries to 533 patients suffering from various ailments.
The initiative tagged the surgical festival was carried out at the General Hospital Kontagora.
According to the founder of the Sani Bello Foundation, Retired Col. Sani Bello, the initiative was borne out of the desire to make a lasting impact on the lives of the less privileged.
“Whenever I visit the medical outreach patients, I marvel at what we have done. We are touching lives.
“If I wanted, I could spend millions of naira on a party but why should I spend so much money on that party for a few and most of the people who will attend the party are privileged people, who have got a lot of food in their houses.
“I would rather spend that kind of money on people who need my help. Why shouldn’t I give it to people who need my assistance to get well? Health is wealth. If they are well, they can manage their lives.”
Also speaking to journalists in Kontagora on Friday, the vice chairman of the Sani Bello Foundation, Usman Sani-Bello noted that the initiative was aimed at alleviating the plights of indigent patients who can not afford such medical expenses.
“We can’t keep relying too much on the government, we all know how difficult it is to provide healthcare to everyone. We have had 533 surgeries so far. We don’t have a target, we just do as much as we can, with the help of the abled doctors from Kaduna.”
Similarly, the Chairman, of Graceland Healthcare Development Kaduna, Dr Toth Joseph shared in Usman’s desire to improve access to healthcare among the indigent Nigerians.
Dr Toth noted that the project removes the financial burden on poor Nigerians and improves overall health outcomes.
“I know a case of thyroid, for thyroidectomy, he paid N1 million in Abuja but when he learned that we were doing it for free, he did it for free and went back for a refund.”
“Knowing the condition of Nigeria, the cost is ridiculous. In a conventional hospital, you spend about N100,000 for thyroid, let’s not talk about doing it in a specialist hospital which can cost more.”
On his part, a consultant ophthalmologist, Dr Stanley Bulus stressed the role of the initiative in improving eye health.
“98 per cent of cases done were cataract surgeries. We have also given over 900 glasses to people.
“The glasses we are using are those highly subsided but outside, could cost about N20,000.”
“In a government hospital, they charge about N40,000 apart from another N15,000 for drugs.
“In private hospital settings, cataract surgeries go for about N140,000 to N150,000.”
This online platform reports that the outreach covered free surgeries and the provision of medication for illnesses such as Goitre, appendicitis, fibroids, hernia and prolapse in women.
This is in addition to free eye screening and the provision of glasses to patients with eye defects.
