…offers free eye surgeries to 500 residents
By Sarah NEGEDU
At least 500 indigent patients are currently benefiting from a free eye cataract surgery organised by the FCT Administration, as part of its efforts of reducing cases of preventable blindness in the territory.
The Secretary of the FCTA Health and Human Services, Dr. Abubakar Tafida, who flagged off the intervention programme at the Kwali General Hospital on Wednesday said, the Secretariat is hoping to build a high volume of cataract surgery center in the council to benefit surrounding communities.
He noted that efforts to sustain the programme would be intensified with the support of Development Partners and other stakeholders.
While he disclosed that the programme may not continue to be free of charge in the future, he explained that the cost would be made affordable to patients.
He said, “We took up the issue with the Minister who approved that 500 patients should be operated free. This is the beginning, as we continue with this activity, we hope it will culminate into a development of high volume Cataract surgery centre in Kwali.
“Even if it will not be free after sometime, it is going to be cost effective,” Tafida said.
Dr. Fatima Kyari, an ophthalmologist at the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, said the partners have thrown their weight behind the programme to reduce cases of preventable blindness.
She disclosed that some of the patients that have benefited from the free surgery, have been blind for over 10 years with most of them losing their means of livelihood during the period.
Kyari disclosed that the partners provided all the consumables which complimented the efforts of FCTA.
Also, the paramount ruler and Etsu of Kwali Dr. Aliyu Shaban, commended the FCT Administration for considering a rural community like Kwali for such laudable intervention.
He also appealed that the programme be sustained and possibly extended to other rural communities where many indigent Cataract patients are found.
Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Danladi Chiya, thanked the FCTA for choosing Kwali to host the outreach.
Chiya who was represented by the vice chairman of the council, Hon. Zuberu Yawuchi, noted that the intervention was timely considering that alot of persons in the grassroots wouldn’t have been able to afford the surgery on their own.
Two beneficiaries of the free surgery, Wando Samuel and Evelyn Okoye, testified to the effectiveness of the programme, saying that the surgery has restored both sight and productive life to them.
Àt least, one in every 25 Nigerian above 40years are said to suffer from cataract, translating to about 4million people affected by the disease nation wide.
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