JThe Jigawa Government, in collaboration with an NGO, Christoffel Blinden Mission (CBM), has begun free eye surgery for 1,600 patients with cataract.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the Dutse General Hospital on Wednesday reports that the patients were seen in their hundreds waiting for the surgery.
The State Coordinator for Primary Eye Care, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Umar, said the surgeries had begun simultaneously in five different centres in the five emirates
Umar, who told NAN that it was the second round of the programme, recalled that the first phase in March involved the same number of patients, also with cataract.
The coordinator announced that the state government had set aside N15 million for the payment of the patients' bills and logistics for the current round of treatment.
Umar noted that since the inception of the Gov. Sule Lamido administration, it had been carrying out such free surgeries in collaboration with support partners annually.
The Country Programme Coordinator of CBM, Mr Christopher Ogoche, told NAN that his organisation had carried out a survey long ago in the state which showed that many people suffered from treatable eye diseases, especially in the villages.
He expressed regret that the villagers could not afford the cost of treatment and explained that the development compelled the organisation to team up with the state government to provide the service free.
Ogoche, who said that the surgeons used modern equipment for the operation, lauded the state government for its free eye care programme which, he said, had assisted the less privileged.
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