The Kebbi government says it has targeted 5,000 patients for free eye treatment across the 21 local government areas.

The five-day exercise is being implemented in partnership with a Saudi-based organisation, World Assembly of Muslim Youth, and the Nasara Foundation.

The health commissioner, Isma’il Augie, said this on Sunday after inspecting the exercise at the Kebbi State Teaching Hospital, Kalgo.

He said the beneficiaries comprised 1,000 surgeries, 3,000 eye-related treatments and the distribution of 1,000 glasses.

Mr Augie, who expressed satisfaction with the level of progress recorded so far, described the exercise as “special”.

“We are targeting 5,000 beneficiaries. We thank Governor Nasir Idris and his wife, Zainab-Nasare Nasir Idris, whose foundation, in collaboration with the state government, key in to partner and get to this level. The state government key in to complement the efforts of the foreign medical team. Government is shouldering 50 per cent of the burden of the entire exercise,” he said.

According to Mr Augie, patients who come for the exercise will receive free three square meals throughout the five days, to ease their difficulties.

Hisham Muhammad, the team lead, said the medical team had attended to over 500 patients, including 54 operations, issued 100 glasses, and supplied medicines to 336 patients on the first day of the exercise.

Mr Muhammad, who is also the country director of WAMY, said the organisation was under the United Nations.

“By the grace of Almighty God, more are coming, our target is to perform 1,000 operations, issue 600 classes and medication 2,000 plus,” he stated.

Also, Imam Imran Usman, special adviser to the governor on religious affairs, lauded the gesture.

He advised residents with eye-related issues to take advantage of the opportunity to treat their sight problems.

“I want to use this medium to call on our people with eye-related problems to come forward for free medication. I must commend the efforts of the state governor, his wife and WAMY for coming together to offer free eye treatment,” he said. 

(NAN)