By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The North-East Development Commission, in collaboration with Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, on Thursday pledged support to improve access to healthcare services in rural communities in the North-East Nigeria.
The duo made the pledge during the final part of NEDC/ Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, free eye care medical outreach in Taraba
Our correspondent reports that 5,687 persons benefitted from the NEDC/ Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, free eye care medical outreach in Wukari, Ibi, Gassol, Yorro and Sadauna Local Government Areas of the state.
The initiative was aimed at addressing the growing cases of preventable blindness and vision impairment in underserved co,zxmmunities.
Mr Ali Mohammed Tonga, a representative of the North-East Development Commission, and the Director, Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, Professor Olukorede Adenuga, noted during the closing exercise of the medical outreach in Sardauna Local Government that improving access to healthcare services in rural communities would help reduce cases of preventable blindness and vision impairment.
According to them, beneficiaries of the free eye care medical outreach received comprehensive eye screenings, free prescription glasses, eye medications, and surgical interventions for cataract and pterygium.
“Good vision is essential for productivity and quality of life. Through this collaboration with Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, we have been able to restore hope to many who had limited access to proper eye care. We wish to pledged our sincere commitment to improve access to healthcare in rural communities in the North East,” the NEDC representative stated.
On his part, Adenuga, stated that, “Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation remains dedicated to providing sustainable eye health solutions in Nigeria. We sincerely appreciate NEDC for the partnership and support.
“We have witnessed firsthand, the impact of this outreach. Many people who have struggled with impaired vision for years can now see clearly, and this is life-changing for them and their families,” the Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation Director expressed.
Mr James Gabriel, and Amina Abubakar, some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to NEDC and Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation for the gesture, and appealed for Taraba State Government’s deliberate effort to compliment NEDC and Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation effort to ending blindness in the state.
