3 blind children schelduled for NNPC foundation’s free surgery in Ogun
Surgery
By Yetunde Fatungase
Abeokuta, Jan. 8, 2025(NAN) Two toddlers and one five year old are scheduled to benefit from the NNPC Foundation free eye surgery in Ogun.
Dr Anne Amugo, Lead Consultant Physician to the foundation made this known on Wednesday at the inauguration of the NNPC foundation free 1000 eye surgery programme in the Southwest.
She disclosed that the three children identified have been scheduled for surgery from Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the screening began in December, while surgeries commenced on Monday till Jan. 12.
According to Amugo, the foundation is primarily focused on supporting indigent people, saying it is proud to help restore sight to those in need.
She added that one of the children had been referred to the University College Hospital (UCH) but was unable to receive treatment due to financial constraints.
“Notably, we have identified three children born with blindness and their sights will definitely be restored.
“One of them was referred to UCH but because of financial difficulties, she couldn’t receive treatment.
“The restoration of their sights will definitely bring immense joy to their families and to us as a foundation too,” she said.
Narrating her ordeal, mother of one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Adebisi Odunuga said her five year old daughter; Iremide Kasali had been blind from birth.
Odunuga, who came from Sagamu, said they were oblivious to the daughter’s condition from birth thinking it was something else that made her cry every night.
But after it was discovered that her eyes were affected, the family tried to help her regain her sight but was met with difficulties of financing.
The mother, who was visibly excited about the upcoming surgery thanked the foundation for restoring her hope of getting a cure for her daughter.
“It was my sister who is a nurse, that noticed the condition and we promptly took her to the hospital for medical attention.
“We first took her to Teaching Hospital in Sagamu after which we were referred to UCH, Ibadan where we were asked to pay about N250,000 but the date they gave us was too far.
“We also went to Eye clinic at Ijebu-Imusin where we were asked to go and bring N2.2million; I thought to myself, where will I get that kind of money.
“We also came to General Hospital in Abeokuta but was referred back to UCH but as God will have it, one woman who works here (FMC) told my sister about the free NNPC surgery and we decided to come.
“I will be the happiest day of my life if my daughter’s sight is restored successfully,” Odunuga said.
Dr Peter Abikoye, Consultant Ophthalmologist at FMC Abeokuta, who spoke on the surgeries so far, said eye surgery for children was more expensive than for adults.
He explained that they would undertake the surgeries of the three children as soon as the flag off ceremony was over.
He, however, said no fewer than 200 persons have been operated on since the surgeries began on Monday.
“Ordinarily we don’t undertake such surgeries in our eye camp here but when NNPC foundation heard about it, they told us to go ahead and do what we can and that is why they’re on the list,” he explained.
Earlier in her address, the Managing Director of the NNPC foundation, Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe said that the programme aims to combat widespread issue of visual impairment caused by cataract.
Arukwe, represented by Mrs Teniola Abu, Deputy Manager of Special Projects of the foundation, noted that the foundation was committed to promoting accessible, affordable and sustainable healthcare across Nigeria.
She added that the initiative would be replicated in other geopolitical zones of the country. (NAN)
