1, 500 OGUN RESIDENTS GET FREE EYE CARE INTERVENTION

  1, 500 OGUN RESIDENTS GET FREE EYE CARE INTERVENTION

The Ogun State Government in collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisations, 8th of March Initiative and the National Eye Center, have flagged-off a free eye care programme for residents, across three Senatorial Districts of the State. 

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, while speaking during the programme, at the General Hospital, Ikenne, said 1, 500 residents of the State would enjoy free eye surgeries, while others would gain access to consultations, screening and other corrective eye care interventions. 

Coker stated that the intervention would be replicated at the General Hospitals, Idiroko and Owode-Egba, between Monday, May 31 and Wednesday, June 9, 2021,

She said the 8th of March Initiative, which is brain child of the Friends of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is aimed at conducting free eye surgeries for 6, 000 individuals across the six geopolitical zones of the country, saying it was created to commemorate the vice president's birthday. 

"It gladdens my heart that Ogun State happens to benefit from this great intervention. Access to quality eye care services, especially in rural areas. It is imperative that existent resources are effectively used, targeting the major avoidable causes of blindness. 

"Here in Ogun State, it was identified in a study as far back as 20 years ago that something as seeming simple as cataract was responsible for 36.6 percent of visual impairments. The same study demonstrated that 87.5 percent of blindness and 75.7 percent of visual impairment were avoidable. We cannot be grateful enough for this programme", she said. 

Appreciating the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for creating an enabling environment that continues to attract life-improving collaborative interventions, the Commissioner appealed to residents of the State to avail themselves of the programme, especially the aged, to receive quality eye care services from the professionals.

In her goodwill message, the Senior Technical Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Office of the Vice President, Dr. Ebi Awosika described Prof. Osinbajo as a lover of social interventions, that would improve the lives of the indigents across the country. 

 

Goke Gbadamosi,

Press Officer, Min. of Health