In a major humanitarian gesture, the NNPC Foundation has announced it will sponsor 1,000 free cataract extraction surgeries across the North West region of Nigeria, as part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery and supporting vulnerable communities.
The initiative, unveiled during a press briefing in Kaduna on Friday, is targeted at restoring sight to indigent Nigerians suffering from cataracts, a leading cause of preventable blindness in the country. According to the Foundation, the surgeries will be conducted in selected public hospitals across states in the North West, including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Zamfara.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, stated that the free eye surgeries form part of the Foundation’s broader healthcare intervention programmes aimed at improving the quality of life for underserved populations. She emphasized that good vision is critical not only for personal well-being but also for economic productivity, especially in rural communities where manual labour remains a major source of livelihood.
“Our goal is to give the gift of sight back to as many Nigerians as possible, particularly those who would otherwise be unable to afford surgery. We believe that by restoring their vision, we are empowering individuals and families to live fuller, more productive lives,” Arukwe said.
She disclosed that a thorough screening exercise would precede the surgeries to ensure that beneficiaries are properly diagnosed and prioritized based on medical urgency. The Foundation is collaborating with reputable ophthalmologists, medical volunteers, and local health authorities to ensure the surgeries are safe, efficient, and accessible.
Cataract, a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, is responsible for nearly 50% of cases of blindness in Nigeria, according to data from the Nigerian National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey. Experts say that although cataract surgery is a relatively simple procedure, the cost remains a major barrier for many poor Nigerians.
Beneficiaries of the NNPC Foundation’s project will not only receive the surgeries free of charge but will also be provided with post-operative care, medications, and follow-up assessments to ensure full recovery.
Community leaders and health advocates across the North West have lauded the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful, particularly at a time when many families are grappling with rising healthcare costs amid tough economic conditions.
The NNPC Foundation’s free cataract surgery programme is expected to kick off in May 2025, with mobile outreach teams already mobilized to remote communities to identify potential beneficiaries and raise awareness about the exercise.
