The Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Sunday launched a programme tagged Free Eye Care/Eye Camp, aimed at treating at least 44,000 patients across the 44 local government areas of the state.
A statement by the governor's press secretary, Aminu Yassar, said under the programme, patients would be given drugs, medical glasses or undergo cataract and lid repair surgeries free of charge.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr. Ganduje said he initiated the free eye care programme as part of his human development agenda.
He said the beneficiaries of the programme range from people with visual impairment to total blindness, noting that those with visual impairment could be saved from total blindness.
According to the governor, empirical evidence has shown that at least three million Nigerians are suffering from different kinds of eye problems, while one million are blind.
"We are aware of the economic and social repercussions of blindness. Cataract, which is the leading cause of blindness among our people, is treatable. Yet, many people lack the money to treat it and other eye problems, which lead to blindness," the governor lamented.
Consequently, he announced that the state government plans to procure and install specialized equipment in some hospitals across the state and provide surgical consumables to treat eye related problems.
The governor expressed appreciation to UNICEF, WHO, M4H, CHAI and other development partners for their support to the state, especially in the area of health services.
Speaking earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Getso Ibrahim, said eye patients are expected to receive various degrees of treatments at several centres across the state, explaining that at the Sir Sanusi Hospital Centre, 7,000 people from seven local government areas would benefit from the program.
A statement by the governor's press secretary, Aminu Yassar, said under the programme, patients would be given drugs, medical glasses or undergo cataract and lid repair surgeries free of charge.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr. Ganduje said he initiated the free eye care programme as part of his human development agenda.
He said the beneficiaries of the programme range from people with visual impairment to total blindness, noting that those with visual impairment could be saved from total blindness.
According to the governor, empirical evidence has shown that at least three million Nigerians are suffering from different kinds of eye problems, while one million are blind.
"We are aware of the economic and social repercussions of blindness. Cataract, which is the leading cause of blindness among our people, is treatable. Yet, many people lack the money to treat it and other eye problems, which lead to blindness," the governor lamented.
Consequently, he announced that the state government plans to procure and install specialized equipment in some hospitals across the state and provide surgical consumables to treat eye related problems.
The governor expressed appreciation to UNICEF, WHO, M4H, CHAI and other development partners for their support to the state, especially in the area of health services.
Speaking earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Getso Ibrahim, said eye patients are expected to receive various degrees of treatments at several centres across the state, explaining that at the Sir Sanusi Hospital Centre, 7,000 people from seven local government areas would benefit from the program.
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