From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
An Abuja based Non Governmental Organization (NGO) UC-Eye Care Centre, has commenced a three week free Eye treatment service to Tarabans in all the 16 local government areas of the state.
The Coordinator of the project Dr Aliyu Mairiga who disclosed this to journalists said that the treatment which is aimed at eradicating cases of blindness and restoring vision to people who are vulnerable to blindness, is being fully sponsored by the APC Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation of Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.
He said that the exercise is targeted at treating about five thousand two hundred and fifty people with various Eye ailments.
“The free Eye service has just kicked off today, July 25th, 2022 in Donga. We will cover some local governments in the Southern and Central Zones during the first phase, before moving to the Northern Zone. Wukari will take its turn on Tuesday, Ibbi on Wednesday, before the team moves to Gassol on Thursday. The team will split into two and take the exercise simultaneously to Bali, Gashaka, Sardauna and Kurmi from Friday before returning to Jalingo by the weekend of August 3, 2022” Mairiga said.
Mairiga who further assured that in order to ensure high professional standards and safety of its patients, it has assembled highly experienced Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Ophthalmic Nurses and Opticians from across the country said the exercise is open to all residents of the state irrespective of religious or political affiliation.
While flagging off the exercise, the former deputy Minority leader and governorship Candi of the All Progressives Congress APC in Taraba Senator Emmanuel Bwacha emphasized that the exercise is being sponsored to underscore his concerns about the social wellbeing of the people especially those who cannot afford the cost of their treatment.
He urged those concerned to avail themselves of this opportunity to treat or restore their visual impairment.
Daily Sun reports that eye impairment is a major medical issue in the state with some communities have a sizable number of their population suffering from river blindness.