The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Foundation has successfully carried out a free cataract surgery initiative for 500 individuals in Niger State, providing them with the chance to regain their sight.

Speaking at the event in Minna, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, emphasized the foundation’s commitment to improving lives across the country.

“We believe in building a society where no one is left behind, and this programme is a testament to that commitment,” she said.The initiative, which aims to restore vision to 6,000 Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones, has already been executed in the South-West, South-East, and South-South zones.

“Cataracts account for nearly 50 percent of blindness cases in Nigeria, with many suffering avoidable blindness due to lack of access to quality care,” Arukwe added.

Dr. Bello Tukur, Niger State’s Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, highlighted the state’s ongoing struggle with a backlog of 5,000 cataract patients.

“500 new cases emerge each year, and this programme is vital in helping address this growing issue,” Tukur stated.Beneficiaries, like Fatima Sallah, Maryam Suleiman, and Aisha Musa, expressed their gratitude.

“This surgery has been life-changing and has restored my independence,” said Sallah.