No fewer than 472 cataract patients have received free surgery in Sokoto State courtesy of Friends of Osinbajo Medical Outreach.
Dr Abubakar Dange, Coordinator of the medical outreach in the state, revealed this while speaking with newsmen in Sokoto.
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The exercise, organised by the friends of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo under the auspices of the “March 8 Initiative” is an offshoot of the nationwide Free Eye Care/Surgery inaugurated recently in Ikenne, Ogun State.
Dr Dange said, “The Sokoto phase of the medical outreach witnessed a large turnout and already 472 cataract patients got free eye surgeries with many others receiving free consultations, screening and other corrective eye care interventions.
“The initiative, which has impacted many Nigerians across different sectors over the years, is one way the vice president has asked his friends and associates to mark his birthday instead of spending scarce resources on gifts and others.
“The exercise kicked off at the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, on May 25 with many patients from within and outside the state capital presenting themselves for screening and treatment to a team led by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Nuhu Maishanu.
“Although 1,500 patients are targeted for treatment during the period of the exercise, the medical team has so far conducted successful surgeries on 472 patients and thousands more received other corrective eye care interventions between May 27 and May 30.”
A beneficiary, Aliyu Murtala, said he came there because he could not see very well with both eyes, but that after the treatment, he could see clearly.
Murtal added that, “The interesting thing about what has happened here today is that I did not pay a dime to get this quality of treatment.”
The exercise is expected to end on June 20. (NAN)
