By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – ONE hundred and twenty people made up of 100 adults and 20 children are set to benefit from a free cataract surgery sponsored by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State.

This would be done with support from Yongxing Steel Company Limited and Edo state based Chinese steel company.

Apart from the surgery, there would also be free screening and eye treatment for patients who show up for the exercise, while 20 patients got N2 Million financial support.

The Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Darlington Obaseki said that the gesture was a good way to ease the tension on the patients who would have had to use their money for the operation and commended the Consulate General of the People Republic of China, for providing succour to eye patients at the hospital.

According to him, “This idea by the Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China is a laudable one and it is coming at a time when patients need it most. The economic situation is tough and this gesture will provide succour for many people in the UBTH.

“I commend the Consulate General of the People sRepublic of China for these gestures and hope that it is not a one off. The management of the UBTH is also ready to partner with the sponsor on programmes like this.”

On his part, the Acting Consul General, Jin Mingyu, said that the embassy and the government of China was happy to give succour to Nigerians through the free eye surgery.

He stated that it was a way of giving back to society, while urging the people to take advantage of the programme to improve their health, noting that the Consulate-General would always roll out programmes that would help Nigerians.

He noted that there were Chinese companies operating in the country and that those companies are thriving due to the support they get from the government and its people. “Free surgery is meant to help people with medical needs. We realise that this will help Nigerians so we decided to sponsor the treatment. We are happy to sponsor this free surgery and I hope that Nigerians will take advantage of it.” He said.

UBTH Head of Ophthalmology department, Valentina Okeigbemen said

the programme for free cataract surgeries in adults and children, is sponsored by the Chinese Consulate in Lagos majorly and the Yongxing Steel Company Limited in Edo State in collaboration with the Edo State Ministry of Health, UBTH and the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, Edo State chapter.

She added, “We have a target to do a minimum of 120 cataract surgeries, 100 adult surgeries and 20 surgeries in children.

“The Department has been involved in rendering service to the citizens of Edo State and its environs by carrying out subsidized cataract surgeries in adult patients every quarter.

“However, this programme is unique and the first of its kind because cataract surgery will be performed in a minimum of 20 children and secondly, the cataract surgery in adults will be fully sponsored. When we say fully sponsored, it means the surgery fee and drugs for the adults have been paid for while the surgery fees, investigations, admission and drugs for the children have been taken care of.”