Foundation begins free eye surgery for 1,000 people in Gombe

AMEN Health Care and Empowerment Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in collaboration with the Gombe State Government, has begun free eye surgery for 1,000 persons in the state.

Mrs Rita Oguntoyinbo, the founder and president of the foundation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Wednesday that the programme was to help people regain their sight.

“We are partnering with the state government on the control and prevention of neglected tropical diseases.

“We are conducting trichiasis surgeries for 1,000 people for a start out of more than 16, 000 people, who have trachoma trichiasis, and have gone blind from the effect of trachoma.

“We will need to do something to help them regain their sight and so, we decided in our third year of working in the state to address the morbidity cases,” she said.

According to her, the exercise will be sustained as screening continues in each Local Government Area until the NGO is able to mop up the 16, 000 cases.

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“When we clear the 1,000 surgeries, we have provision to continue because our founders are ready to continue to support us until we clear the 16, 000 cases,” she added.

She called on the Gombe State Government to honour its pledge to provide counterpart funding for the success of the programme.

Oguntoyinbo said that the foundation had also scheduled no fewer than 170 people, who would benefit from cataract surgeries.

According to her, the cataract surgery programme will come on the regular basis probably quarterly or biannually to reduce the burden on the people.