500 to benefit from free eye treatment programme in Niger

Niger State governor, Sani Bello

No fewer than 500 patients from the 25 local government areas of Niger are to benefit from a five-day free eye treatment programme of the state government in partnership with the Saudi government.

Speaking at the event which held at the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna on Monday, Gov. Sani Bello said the programme would ensure the treatment of indigent patients with various eye ailments.

He said the programme would concentrate on removing of cataract, rectifying of lenses as well as giving of glasses where necessary in order to reduce blindness in the state.

“We discovered that some people in rural areas have different diseases such cataract, hernia and goitre for 30 and 40 years and cannot afford treatment.

“We will sustain this type of projects. More of such programmes will come up; it is a continuous process.

“By next week, the surgeons will carry out free operation for people with hernia and goitre,” he said.

Dr Mustapha Jibrin, the state’s Commissioner for Health, said that the state government invested N11 million in the intervention programme.

He added that the Saudi government brought in 1, 000 eye glasses and drugs while four eye surgeons came from the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, Saudi Arabia and Niger.

Mr Jibrin Isah, the state’s Eye Health Coordinator, disclosed that out of the 500 beneficiaries, 108 patients had been operated on.

Isah said that a ratio of 60 to 40 for male and female patients would be given free eye operation of cataract during the programme.

He explained that 20 beneficiaries were selected from each of the 25 local government areas of the state.