The National Association of Seadogs, also known as the Pyrates Confraternity, has partnered with Eye Foundation Hospital to provide free eye medical services to about 300 less-privileged residents of Ota communities in Ogun State.

The one-day outreach, supported by Blizzard Deck, was held at the palace of the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege, in Ado-Odo/Ota. It lasted about five hours and focused mainly on elderly residents suffering from eye conditions such as cataract, presbyopia, glaucoma and other allergies.

Speaking at the event, Capoon of Ash Montana Deck, Abeokuta, Mr Ganiyu Omitogun, said the outreach was part of the association’s social responsibility programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of vulnerable members of society.

He said about 300 people were targeted for screening and treatment, adding that the group had already paid for cataract surgeries for three patients and planned to support eight more, bringing the expected beneficiaries of surgery to 10.

“We don’t know these people from anywhere. We gathered about 300 people and identified three who need cataract surgeries, which we have paid for, and we are planning to do about 10,” Omitogun said.

“These people are aged, and one of the major health challenges at that age is eyesight. Some told us they went to hospitals but were asked to pay huge sums they could not afford. Our mission is for the less privileged to benefit from this programme.”

Also speaking, programme manager at Eye Foundation Hospital, Mr Emmanuel Ogudare, said the partnership was designed to reach elderly people who could not access eye care because of financial constraints.

He said beneficiaries were treated for conditions including cataract, inflammation, glaucoma and allergies, while those struggling with reading were provided with free eyeglasses and patients with dry eyes received eye drops.

“Through this partnership, we have been able to provide free basic eye care services, free eye drops and free glasses, and we will also be doing free cataract surgeries,” Ogudare said.

He added that many of the patients had difficulty reading religious texts or small prints on phones and laptops, while some artisans, including tailors who struggled to thread needles, also benefited from corrective glasses.