About 7,000 vulnerable persons with various eye ailments have benefited from free eye surgeries and related services, sponsored by a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Mangal Foundation.

A member of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, Hussaini Kabir, disclosed this weekend at the 2025 last-quarter eye surgery exercise at the Katsina Eye Centre, Katsina State.

Kabir said the 7,000 patients were beneficiaries for 2025, and that many of them were from states neighbouring Katsina, as well as from the Republic of Niger.

He said the foundation began screening beneficiaries about two weeks ago, during which many of them received free drugs and medicated eyeglasses.

He added that those requiring surgery had their entire hospital stay fully covered, adding that about 2,000 patients were screened during the ongoing last-quarter exercise.

He reiterated the foundation’s commitment to improving access to healthcare, describing the initiative as part of its corporate social responsibility.

According to him, “Our aim is to complement government efforts and ease the healthcare cost burden on the most vulnerable, especially those struggling to meet basic needs.”

Kabir further said the foundation has so far sponsored free surgeries and related services for about 18,000 vulnerable persons since it first began the scheme in 2016.

Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Yusuf Usman, said he had suffered vision problems for over two years but could not afford surgery.

Usman said, “For the past two years, I could not see clearly, but today I have undergone the surgery, and I am hopeful my sight will be restored.”

Another beneficiary, Aisha Muntari, said she developed eye problems about a year ago and had almost lost hope before learning about the foundation’s intervention, expressing confidence that her vision would soon be restored.

They both called on organisations and wealthy individuals to emulate the foundation’s gesture by giving less privileged persons the vital healthcare they need but are unable to afford.