Residents hail free eyecare glasses initiative by C’River govt, Rotary Club

Residents of Cross River State have commended the state government and the Rotary Club for providing free eye screening and medicated glasses during a medical outreach organised to mark the 2026 commemoration of World Glaucoma Week.

The outreach, organised by the state Ministry of Health through its Integrated Eyecare (ICARE) programme in collaboration with the Rotary Club, was held in Calabar and attracted a large number of people seeking eyecare services.

Beneficiaries who spoke during the exercise described the initiative as timely and impactful, noting that many people in the community struggle to access proper eyecare because of financial constraints.

One of the beneficiaries, Ntui Ajom, said he visited the centre with neighbours after learning about the programme and expressed gratitude to the organisers for providing free treatment and medicated glasses.

He said the intervention will go a long way in helping residents detect eye problems early and access treatment that they might otherwise not be able to afford.

Some beneficiaries also appealed to the organisers to expand the outreach in future editions and improve publicity so that more residents across the state can benefit from the initiative.

The outreach provided free eye examinations, medicated glasses and treatment for various eye conditions, including cataract, refractive errors, pterygium and conjunctivitis.

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Speaking during the exercise, Director of the ICARE programme, Dr. Akinchon Luna, said the outreach was organised to raise awareness about eye health and prevent avoidable blindness.

She explained that the 2026 commemoration had the theme: ‘Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World’, stressing the need for collective action to tackle glaucoma and other eye-related diseases.

She said that sight remains one of the most valuable human senses, yet millions of people across the world continue to live with preventable blindness due to limited access to proper eyecare services.

Dr. Luna described glaucoma as a “silent thief of sight,” explaining that the disease gradually damages vision without early symptoms, which makes routine eye examinations very important.

Also, the 40th president of the Rotary Club, Chidinma Martins, said the initiative was part of the organisation’s commitment to community service and addressing critical health needs.

Health experts say glaucoma remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness globally, but early detection and prompt treatment can help preserve vision and improve quality of life.