Seplat Energy JV recently held the opening ceremony of its ‘Eye Can See’ initiative at the palace of the Oba of Benin in Edo State. The event which is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) signature health programme is designed to ensure the provision of eye care and surgical treatment for cataract, glaucoma and other eye problems within NNPC E & P Limited/Seplat Energy operational communities in Edo and Delta states.
It is also an opportunity to lecture on ways to ensure total well- being when faced with other health challenges, such as hypertension and diabetes. The programme is targeted at men, women and children towards achieving the United Nations Sustainability Development Goal (SDG) 3 on good health and well being.
Other objectives of the programme include the provision of free optical treatment to members of the communities, provision of free reading glasses and treatment of other related eye problems and educating patients on ways to care for the eyes.
Speaking during the programme, the Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Chioma Afe, said it was designed to ensure provision of eye care.
“Since the inception of the programme in 2012, the lives of many citizens in our host communities and other areas have been richly impacted. A total of 96,411 patients have been screened; 45,074 reading glasses have been dispensed and 4,218 surgeries performed. The 2023 edition which is being flagged off at the Oba’s Palace Benin will boost these numbers as 90 communities will be served using 13 centres across Edo and Delta states,” she said.
In his remarks, the Director, New Energy, Seplat Energy, Effiong Okon, expressed gratitude to NNPC E&P Limited and other stakeholders involved in making the initiative a success. “We extend our sincere appreciation to the Palace, the government of Edo and Delta states, and NNPC E&P Limited for their unwavering support. Their collaboration has been instrumental in ensuring the success of the ‘Eye Can See’ Initiative over the years,” Okon said.
He added that Seplat Energy and its partners will continue to work to boost the impacts of the programme leveraging relevant technologies and other resources whist appealing to the company’s host communities to always support its operations. “As you know, at Seplat Energy, we are purpose driven, we are here to serve and to give back to the society. And on that note, please we will like to continue to bank on your support going forward as you’ve always done. We anticipate that this intervention will continue and even outlive all of us.”
Whilst delivering his goodwill message, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, represented by Chief Stanley Obamwonyi, the Esere of Benin Kingdom, thanked Seplat Energy and partners for the delivery of the programme, which he noted had been consistent over the years.
“We thank Seplat Energy for the constant featuring of this Eye Can See programme, which has tremendously helped my people. We can only urge you to continue in this light,” the Oba said.
In his message, the Managing Director, NNPC E&P Limited, Ali Zarah represented by the Deputy Manager Community Relations, Ajakaye Emily Ladi, expressed gratitude for the support received from the host communities and extended its appreciation to Seplat Energy for the partnership in implementing the “Eye Can See” programme for 12 years. He said the collaboration between the two entities is aimed at enhancing eye care and visual aid services, including surgical treatments for various eye challenges within the operational communities.
The Eye Can See programme delivers on the initial promise to provide professional health care to the communities; provides a platform for managing and referring patients living with hypertension and diabetes; provides free optical treatment at all levels to members of the communities; prevents and reduces cases of permanent loss of vision; provides free reading glasses; treat other eye related diseases; educate patients on ways to care for the eyes and how to detect Cataracts and Glaucoma; and educate patients on the lifestyle change to reduce the rates of hypertension and diabetes.