Sani Haruna
The Kebbi State Government, in partnership with the Saudi-based World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), has commenced a free eye care outreach aimed at providing medical services to 5,000 beneficiaries across the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Malam Yahaya Sarki.
The five-day exercise, supported by the Nasara Foundation, an initiative of the Governor’s wife, Hajiya Zainab Nasir Idris, will offer free surgeries, treatments and eye glasses to patients drawn from all 21 local government areas of the state.
Speaking after inspecting the outreach at the Medical Centre, Kalgo, the State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Isma’il Augie, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the programme, describing it as a special intervention designed to deliver meaningful health support to thousands of residents.
According to him, the initiative is targeting 1,000 surgeries, treatment for 3,000 patients, and distribution of 1,000 eye glasses, bringing the total projected beneficiaries to 5,000.
He commended Governor Nasir Idris and the First Lady for facilitating the partnership with WAMY.
In his remarks, the Country Director of WAMY and leader of the delegation, Dr. Hisham Muhammad, said the organisation, which operates as an NGO under the United Nations framework, was impressed with the turnout recorded so far.
He revealed that in just one day, the team attended to over 500 patients, performed 54 surgeries, issued 100 eyeglasses, and provided medication to 336 patients.
Dr. Muhammad added that the organisation is working towards achieving its overall outreach target of 1,000 surgeries, issuance of 600 glasses, and medication for over 2,000 patients before the programme ends.