About 18,000 vulnerable patients with various eye ailments have received free eye care and surgeries from the Mangal Foundation since 2016.

 A board member, Hussaini Kabir, disclosed this on Friday at the start of the 2025 last-quarter eye surgery exercise in Katsina.

Mr Kabir said about 7,000 beneficiaries were recorded in 2025, cutting across Katsina State, neighbouring states and parts of the Niger Republic.

He explained that screening began two weeks ago, with many patients receiving free drugs and medicated eyeglasses.

Mr Kabir added that patients requiring surgery had their hospital stay fully covered, noting that about 2,000 people were screened in the ongoing exercise.

He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to improving healthcare access as part of its corporate social responsibility.

 “Our aim is to complement government efforts and ease healthcare costs for the most vulnerable,” Mr Kabir said.

An ophthalmologist, Dr Ahmad Hamza, said many patients were diagnosed with cataracts and glaucoma requiring surgical intervention.

He stressed regular eye check-ups, saying early detection prevents permanent vision loss from silent diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.

One beneficiary, Yusufa Usman, said he suffered vision problems for over two years but could not afford surgery.

 “For two years I could not see clearly. Today I have undergone surgery and I am hopeful my sight will be restored,” Usman said.

 Another beneficiary, Aisha Muntari, said she nearly lost hope before learning of the intervention and expressed confidence her vision would soon improve.

(NAN)