NGO provides free eye care to 477 persons

NO fewer than 477 persons have so far benefited from a free medical eye care service provided by Care Vision Support Initiative (CAVSI), an NGO, at Abudu, Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the medical outreach was provided by CAVSI in conjunction with the TY Danjuma Foundation.

According to Dr Tolulope Afolaranmi, the Team Leader of the group, no fewer than 2000 persons are expected to benefit from the five-day programme which commenced on Monday.

Afolaranmi said that the beneficiaries were from the 574 patients so far registered.

He also said that whereas 150 persons were expected to undergo various form of cataract extraction surgeries, about 75 persons have so far undergone such.

He explained that out of the 75 surgeries done, 52 were for cataract extraction, while 23 were Pterigium excisions.

He also said that 402 persons have benefited from various forms of eye care services including drugs, while 400 of the figure were also issued free medical corrective glasses out of the 1,000 targeted presbyopia cases.

The team leader said that the essence of the exercise was for the downtrodden who could not afford medical services to take care of their problems to be reached.

He expressed optimism that at the end of the five days, the expected target would be reached or even surpassed, stressing that all expenses had been funded by the TY Danjuma Foundation.

He disclosed that the cost of the surgeries in hospitals varies between N20,000 and N80,000 depending on the degree of operation and the hospitals or eye care centres.

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Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with NAN commended the initiative while also praying for the sponsor of the exercise.

They urged other elites in the society to emulate the kind gesture of the sponsor.

Some of the beneficiaries of the cataract surgeries include Mr Osagie Efan from Igbanke, who said he was operated 10 years ago on the left eye, but discovered after some time that he could no longer see with his right eye, until he was operated by this team on June 25.

Mrs Elizabeth Izekor, a beneficiary from Benin, said she has been unable to see with her two eyes for five years now.

She said she was asked to pay N80,000 for surgery at the Daughters of Charity medical facility, but since she could not raise the money, she continued living with the blindness until her surgery by the CAVSI team on Tuesday.

Mrs Janet Imalere and Mr John Eboigbodi from Abudu were also beneficiaries of the free eye surgeries.

NAN reports that the team had earlier at the palace of the Enogie of Evbobanosa, HRH Gregory Akenzua, where the monarch commended the initiative and pledged the support of the traditional institution toward the success of the exercise in the area.