5000 patients are to benefit from free treatment of ailments affecting their eyes, including provision of eye glasses, in Kano North Senatorial Zone sponsored by the Senator Barau Jibrin, the Deputy Senate President.
In a three-day exercise starting from Friday, to take place in Kabo, Dambatta and Bichi local government areas, patients with glaucoma, cataract, poor vision and other sight impairments are going to receive free treatment.
Speaking on behalf of the the Deputy Senate President, his Personal Assistant in the Constituency Hashimu Abdulkadir called on all the beneficiaries to ensure they observe instructions given them by the medical personnels on ground in order to facilitate treatment.
“We start by thanking God Almighty for this intervention in which Kabo Local Government Area will serve as the centre where beneficiaries from five other neighbouring local government areas of Rimingado, Tofa, Gwarzo, Shanono and Kabo will be attended to.
[media-credit id=10 width=300 align=”none”][/media-credit] Senator Barau Jibrin, the Deputy Senate President“Whosoever comes with any problem affecting his eyes will be treated free including those who will be given eye glasses.
“The free treatment of patients will take place for the next three days in three of the identified centres that include here in Kabo, Dambatta and Bichi local government areas where beneficiaries from neighboring local governments will go to the centres close to them.
“We want to use this opportunity to thank all the medical personnel present for their dedication, it is indeed not an easy task as we target 5000 patients in the three centres.
“The message of His Excellency the Deputy Senate President is to the beneficiaries to ensure that they cooperate with the personnels, observe all instructions given and use all medications prescribed” PA to the Deputy Senate President stated.
The head of the medical experts Dr Kamal Umar, CEO Vision Savers, while addressing hundreds of beneficiaries gathered at Kabo General Hospital on Friday, classifies the types of cases they will be treating during the exercise.
“There are three types of treatments to be given that include surgery, medication or eye glasses.
“Those with cataract and pterygium will undergo surgery, those with allergy, glaucoma and the likes will be given medication while those with refractive error will be given eye glasses.
“We will work to ensure we meet our target for as long as the patients turnout for treatment within the stated period” he said.
One of the beneficiaries Alhaji Nuhu Gulu who spoke to Vanguard newspaper after receiving treatment expressed delight that he now has the opportunity to be treated of cataract for free and that he could not have been able to afford it on his own due to exorbitant charges.
[media-credit id=10 width=300 align=”none”][/media-credit]
“I am a beneficiary of the free eye treatment. I have been suffering from sight impairment but have not been able to go to the hospital due to exorbitant rates.
“Today I have been diagnosed of cataract and will undergo surgery for free with the help of his Excellency the Deputy Senate President” he said.
An elderly woman, Rahmatu Yusuf also to undergo free eye surgery expressed delight and prayed for the Deputy Senate President.
“It is confirmed that I have cataract and will undergo surgery. I don’t have much to say but to pray for our Senator for his concern” she stated.
Earlier the Chairman of Kabo Local Government Area, Salisu Kabir Kabo had advised the beneficiaries to be orderly in order to have a good exercise at the end while thanking the Deputy Senate President for providing such opportunity to the people of his Constituency.
By Abdulmumin Murtala, Kano
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.