The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Foundation has launched a free cataract screening and surgery initiative in Bayelsa State, aiming to restore sight to over 1,000 individuals. The programme, which took place on Monday, was held at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, and the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, both located in the Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Emmanuella Arukwe, Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, explained that the initiative seeks to address the high incidence of vision impairment caused by cataracts in Nigeria, particularly in underserved areas. Arukwe, represented by Jude Ayalogu, the Manager of Healthcare Programmes at the Foundation, stated that the project is part of a broader national effort to restore sight to 6,000 disadvantaged Nigerians across the country.
She said, “Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness globally, and nearly 50% of blindness cases in Nigeria are attributed to cataracts, according to the World Health Organisation. In rural and underserved areas, the lack of access to proper eye care exacerbates this issue, leaving many to suffer from preventable blindness.”
The NNPC Foundation has replicated this initiative across all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, aiming to reach 1,000 beneficiaries in each zone. The programme has already been completed in the South-West, where it successfully restored sight to hundreds of people earlier in the year.
Arukwe further highlighted that the NNPC Foundation’s initiative includes not only free cataract screenings and surgeries but also public education on eye health. She stressed the broader impact of vision loss, noting that it is a social and economic challenge that affects productivity and quality of life.
In addition to the cataract surgeries, the NNPC Foundation has undertaken several other health-related initiatives, including a pilot eye screening and glaucoma treatment for over 290 people in Abuja, free cancer screenings for approximately 3,440 individuals nationwide, and a medical outreach focused on non-communicable diseases and the distribution of medical consumables to 450 people in Garki village, Abuja.
Dr. James Omietimi, the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, explained that cataracts are the leading cause of reversible blindness, particularly among the elderly. He encouraged the public to take advantage of the free cataract screening and surgery programme, noting that the cost of cataract surgery in public hospitals ranges from N100,000 to N150,000, while private healthcare providers charge upwards of N300,000.
One of the beneficiaries, 60-year-old Highness Opokuni, a father of three, shared his experience of living with cataracts for two years, which had severely impacted his finances. He expressed gratitude to the NNPC Foundation, describing the free treatment as a lifeline for those who cannot afford the high cost of cataract surgery.
The event was attended by Bayelsa First Lady, Dr. Gloria Diri, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seyefa Brisibe, and the Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, who all commended the NNPC Foundation for its invaluable contribution to improving healthcare access in the state.
