By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

The NNPC Foundation has launched a free cataract screening and surgery program, offering sight restoration to over 1,000 individuals in Bayelsa State.

The initiative, which began on Monday, was conducted simultaneously at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yenagoa and the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, within Yenagoa Local Government Area. Over 1,000 people have already been screened as part of the program.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, which was attended by Bayelsa First Lady Dr. Mrs. Gloria Diri, State Commissioner for Health Prof. Seyefa Brisibe, and Hon. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, the Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, emphasized the foundation’s commitment to addressing the widespread issue of cataract-induced vision impairment in Nigeria.

Mrs. Arukwe, represented by Jude Ayalogu, Manager of the Foundation’s Healthcare Program, explained that the initiative is being replicated across the six geopolitical zones of the country and aims to restore sight to 6,000 indigent Nigerians, with 1,000 beneficiaries in each zone.

“Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness globally. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 50 percent of blindness cases in Nigeria are caused by cataracts. In rural and underserved areas, limited access to quality eye care exacerbates this challenge, leading many individuals to live with preventable blindness due to financial barriers,” she said.

She added, “At NNPC Foundation, we recognize that sight is not just a sense but a fundamental pillar of human dignity and opportunity. Through this initiative, we aim to provide free cataract screenings, surgeries, and public education on eye health. Our goal is to help restore sight to 6,000 individuals across Nigeria, and we have already achieved this in the South-West zone earlier this year.”

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the NNPC Foundation, which in the past two years has also launched other healthcare programs, including eye screenings for glaucoma in Abuja (benefiting over 290 individuals), free cancer screenings and counseling for about 3,440 people across the country, and medical outreach programs in Garki Village, Abuja, for the treatment of non-communicable diseases.

In his remarks, Dr. James Omietimi, Chief Medical Director of FMC Yenagoa, described cataracts as the leading cause of reversible blindness, particularly in the elderly. He encouraged the public to take advantage of the free cataract screening and surgery services provided by the NNPC Foundation.

Dr. Omietimi also commended the NNPC Foundation for its efforts, noting that cataract surgeries in public hospitals typically cost between N100,000 and N150,000, while private health centers charge upwards of N300,000.

One of the beneficiaries, Highness Opokunu, a 60-year-old man who had been living with cataracts for two years, expressed gratitude to the NNPC Foundation, calling the initiative a lifeline for those who cannot afford cataract treatment.