Excitement has followed the restoration of sight to 500 vulnerable persons in Niger State, courtesy of free cataract surgeries conducted by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Foundation at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Bosso Low-cost Minna.

One of the beneficiaries, Fatima Mohammed Sallah, expressed gratitude for the life-changing intervention. “I used to see darkness before, but today, I see light. Glory be to Almighty Allah. I pray that Allah rewards the NNPC Foundation management,” she said.

The Community Head of Bosso Low-cost, Alhaji Abdullahi Sai’du, also commended the foundation for its humanitarian efforts.
Speaking on the programme, the Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, Mrs Emmanuela Arukwe, revealed that the initiative aims to restore vision to 6,000 Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones.

Represented by Adamu Sani, Manager, Education, and the team leader, Arukwe emphasised the foundation’s commitment to building an inclusive society.
“The free cataract programme is a testament to our dedication to ensuring no one is left behind. Cataracts account for 50 per cent of blindness in Nigeria, and limited access to quality eye care worsens the problem,” she noted.

Arukwe disclosed that the initiative had already been implemented in the South-West, South-East, and South-South zones, offering free cataract screenings, surgeries, and public education on eye health.

Niger State’s Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr Bello Tukur, revealed that over 5,000 adults are diagnosed with cataracts in the state yearly, with an additional 500 new cases reported each year. He praised the programme’s inclusivity, noting that beneficiaries were treated on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Chairperson of Niger State’s Eye Care programme, Dr Halima Isah, explained that 200 beneficiaries were from Chanchaga Local Council, while 300 came from Bida. Tukur urged the NNPC Foundation to support the state government in acquiring equipment to address the backlog of cases.