Bayelsa: The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Foundation has begun free cataract treatments for no fewer than 1,000 residents of Bayelsa.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the foundation had earlier conducted a screening exercise where individuals were diagnosed with cataracts and subsequently profiled for treatment.
The free surgeries are being conducted at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, and the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri. Mrs. Emmanuela Arukwe, Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, emphasized that this initiative is part of the foundation’s efforts to support individuals with visual challenges. Represented by Jude Ayalogu, Manager of the Healthcare Programme, Arukwe noted that this exercise is part of a nationwide programme aimed at treating 6,000 cataract patients across the six geo-political zones.
WHO reports indicate that cataracts remain a leading cause of blindness globally, with nearly 50 per cent of blindness cases in Nigeria attributed to them. In rural and underserved areas, limited access to quality eye care exacerbates the problem, leading many individuals to live with avoidable blindness. Arukwe highlighted that visual challenges are not just health issues but also social and economic crises, affecting productivity, independence, and quality of life. The foundation’s outreach programmes are based on the understanding that sight is a fundamental pillar of human dignity and opportunity.
Dr. James Omietimi, Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, remarked that cataracts are a leading cause of reversible blindness, especially among the elderly. He encouraged the public to take advantage of the opportunity provided by NNPC Foundation for free cataract screening and extraction. Omietimi praised the foundation’s initiative, noting that it provides significant relief for many families, as cataract surgeries can cost between N100,000 and N150,000 in public hospitals and over N300,000 in private health centers.
Prof. Seiyefa Brisine, Bayelsa’s Commissioner for Health, commended the foundation’s gesture as beneficial for the health of the citizenry. He encouraged other stakeholders to emulate the NNPC Foundation by organizing similar health intervention programmes.
One beneficiary, Mr. Highness Opokuni, a 60-year-old man, shared his experience of suffering from cataracts for two years, which impacted him emotionally and economically. He expressed gratitude to the foundation, describing the initiative as a lifeline for families unable to afford cataract surgery.