The King Salman Humanitarian Relief and Aid Center, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Albasar International Foundation (Makkah Specialist Eye Hospital), has offered free cataract eye surgery to 400 patients in Kano State.
The free eye surgeries, which took place at Makkah Specialist Eye Clinic in Kano, were part of the effort of the foundation and the centre towards the control of blindness in Nigeria and across the world through humanitarian aid and relief in the health sector.
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In an interview with newsmen during the eye surgeries, the Director of Administration and Finance of the Makkah Eye Clinic, Malam Yusuf Ahmad, said the patients, who included men and women, were drawn from various local governments within the city and rural areas of the state.
He said after undergoing successful screening by agents of the hospital at selected LGAs, the people were then invited for the surgery at the hospital and that the services were free of charge.
“These humanitarian activities are part of an expression of the feelings of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the noble direction of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Highness the Crown Prince, towards its pioneering role of supporting communities across the world.
“The gesture is part of commitments of the two centres to offer humanitarian assistance and ensure that people in the immediate society continue to benefit from the tremendous contributions we are offering. This surgery is free and as we always said, is open to everybody, especially the masses with eye problems who cannot afford to pay for surgeries.
“We also give them medicine free of charge, and for those that need glasses, we also give them,” he said.
He appreciated the two centres for their contributions to saving people’s sight and thanked King Salman of Saudi Arabia for his immense support to humanity. He also urged the patients and residents to continue to pray for them to prosper.
Albasar International Foundation is a non-governmental charitable organisation working for the prevention of blindness with particular emphasis on Africa and Asia.
Established in 1990, Albasar International Foundation operates in three ways; free mobile eye camps, the establishment of specialised eye hospitals, and training institutes.
Through the eye camps, which are usually co-sponsored by a donor/sponsor and the foundation, medical eye services are taken to the doorsteps of the patients who may not afford to come to specialised eye hospitals.
Also speaking at the closing ceremony of the event, the Executive Secretary of the Primary Healthcare Management Board in the state, Dr Tijjani Hussaini, said the state government is partnering with the Makkah Eye Clinic towards eliminating blindness and supporting people with eye services.
One of the patients, Alhaji Gambo Lawan Roni, 65, who underwent successful surgery, said he has been battling with eye problems for over 15 years, “but with support of this people, my problem is over. I can see clearly now, something that I missed and gave up on 15 years ago.”
For Hajiya Halima Hamza Brigade, 60, her appreciation is unquantifiable as she has benefitted from the free eye surgery twice in her life.
“I can’t thank these people enough as they have saved my life. This is the second time they are doing this for me. Last year it was my left eye and now my right eye and all free of charge. I really appreciate them for this gesture. Now I can see even better than before,” she said.
