From: Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
A total of 104 persons suffering from eye cataract have benefitted from surgical operations in Benin-City.
The surgical operation was carried out by the Africa Eye Laser Centre in collaboration with Sight Foundation, New Delhi, India and with support by St. Jude Eye Clinic Missions Corporation, United States of America in commemoration of the World Sight Day.
Chief Executive/Medical Director of the Center, Dr. Stanley Godwin Okoye, while addressing newsmen in Benin-City, on Monday, said with the World Sight Day theme that showcased the continuous effort to defeat avoidable blindness, said the management of the center decided to mark the occasion by utilizing the opportunity to organise a surgery camp targeted at providing the community with low cost laser cataract surgery with a view to bring cutting edge surgery to the common man in the streets.
He said that no fewer than 600 persons with eye cataracts have benefitted from its services since the centre started its operations five years ago just as he disclosed that proceed from the operations was plough back to ensure that those who could not afford the cost of the surgery benefitted, adding that 10 people have been operated on freely.
The United States of America based Consultant Ophthalmologist said of the advantages of the surgery in the state was to circumvent the medical tourism.
He said, ” We decided to perform the laser cataract surgeries here in Benin to enable those who cannot afford the cost of the operation.
“We have had over 100 percent success in the operations. The surgery we perform here is to remove the clean window that prevent people from seeing. The cost of the operations ranges from N150,000 for an operation that will cost over N750, 000 elsewhere.
“We want to eliminate medical tourism by Nigerians which is draining our scarce resources and economy”.
Okoye also called on the citizens to take advantage of the offer to have their eyes examined and operated upon at a very low cost without necessarily travelling to India or other foreign countries.
Some of the beneficiaries of the cataract surgeries, Chief Isaac Oghafua,the Oyoba of Benin Kingdom, Elder Samuel Eboigbe, a veteran journalist, Barr. Peter Inegbedion, a lawyer and Engr. Jonathan Omoregbe others commended the management of Africa Eye Laser Center for the good they have done.