From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Foundation has carried out 1,000 free cataract extraction surgeries in its campaign against avoidable blindness in the South East. The surgeries took place at the Abia State Government Specialist and Diagnostic Centre in Umuahia.
Foundation Managing Director Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe spoke during the event. She said cataracts cause 43 percent of blindness in parts of Nigeria, slowing national growth. While checking the surgeries, she noted many who died from the disease could have helped the country if treated.
She explained the NNPC Foundation’s efforts span all six geopolitical zones. The goal is to stop blindness, especially among the poor. Abia State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, urged residents to avoid fake clinics and quacks. “Any eye treatment procured in the house of quacks can lead to untold consequences,” he warned.
He advised people to use approved medical centres and thanked the NNPC Foundation for aiding the South East. Earlier, Dr (Mrs) Anne Amugo, the consultant coordinating the surgeries, visited Governor Alex Otti. She praised his support and his big steps in healthcare and other areas, saying she’s proud of his work to change Abia.
The surgeries ran at the same time in Umuahia and Aba for the South East zone.