Two thousand three hundred and sixty-five cases were treated at a 3-day Free Eye Care Clinic organized by the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation in Port Harcourt last week. Drugs and 991 glasses were dispensed. And 213 surgeries would be carried out the following week, National Network reports.
The free eye care medical team berthed at the La Sien Pavilion, along Forces Avenue, GRA, Port Harcourt venue of the programme from Thursday, September 22 – Saturday, September 24, 2022, and were greeted by a large crowd each morning.
Despite the pressure, the doctors, including optometrists and ophthalmologists and several non-medical volunteers were equal to the task. Food, water, and drinks vendors took advantage of the occasion to make brisk business outside the gate of the complex.
In her welcome address, the Chairman of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, Dr. Seinye Lulu-Briggs expressed her concern that routine eye checks are uncommon in Nigeria, stating that one of the goal of the Foundation is to help prevent vision impairment and blindness in Nigeria by encouraging timely access to quality eye care and rehabilitation.
“According to WHO 2019 world report on vision, one billion of the world’s 2.2bn cases of visual impairment and blindness are preventable. Also, according to the Nigerian Optometric Association, about 50million Nigerians have some form of visual disability with the most common conditions being cataract, glaucoma and other preventable. Dry eye and conjunctivitis are also prevalent in Nigeria”, she stated, reiterating that even though Nigerians take their vision for granted, sight remains the most prominent of human senses and central in every aspect of life.
She further added that the Foundation is committed to improving access to quality healthcare in underserved communities in line with the United Nations Sustainable Goal Number 3 which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well being for all at all ages.
Her words, “Since 2005, we have worked to achieve this objective by routinely including eye care clinics in our free medical missions. Through them, we have provided 36 clinics across the Niger Delta during which we have provided screening, surgeries, medications and dispensed 29, 696 glasses and raised awareness about the importance of preventive eye care in 15 Local Government Areas of Rivers State”.
She expressed joy at the feedback being received from patients who have had their vision restored following the many free eye clinic conducted by the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation.
Speaking about the Foundation’s 21st anniversary she said: “As we move in to our third decade of service to humanity, we are cognizant that the world is still emerging from the ravages of the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic. There is also an ongoing global cost of living crisis occasioned by the pandemic as well as the war in Ukraine and the effect of climate change which are adversely impacting lives and livelihood in communities across our beloved country.”
Dr. Lulu-Briggs assured that the Foundation would do more.
“We will also be more active globally through our membership in the Alliance for NGOs And Civil Society Organizations for South South Cooperation, and other partnerships that we are nurturing which you will be hearing about in the coming weeks,” she said.
Some of the beneficiaries of the free eye care clinic who spoke to National Network expressed appreciation to O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation for the philanthropic gesture and called on other good-spirited individuals and corporate organizations to borrow the good leaf.
One of them, a student who simply gave her name as Nengi, said she was still ‘daydreaming’ at the possibility that an eye problem she had nursed for the past two years has finally been treated.
“I am told that Angels are spirits, but I now believe they are human beings. 0. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, to me are angels on earth. May God bless the Chairman of the foundation, Dr. Mrs. Seinye Lulu-Briggs,” Nengi said.
The case of the woman who came all the way from Benue State with her mother was quite amazing. “We came all the way from Benue State. My mom has cataracts. We heard about the free eye care on social media. I have another friend who stays in Taraba, he too got the information on social media-he had attended a free medical by the Foundation in Omoku sometime ago. He told us about the free eye care as well. We had to come down. We don’t have enough money for my mom’s cataract surgery. It is at maturity stage already. My mom got treatment and is being taken care of free of charge. May God increase the Foundation. Even my mom is saying. “Amen.” There is so much crowd outside. People are going out from here with glasses and glasses cases in their hands- they have been taken care of,” she said.
Another patient, Mr Korubo told our reporter that, “I heard about it over the radio last week that there would be a three-day eye medical treatment here today. I came yesterday. I had sight and reading glasses before. I said let me come and have another pair of glasses here. My eyes have tears and feeling like there is sand inside. I have been given some drugs and a new pair of glasses.” He also commended the organizers. “Good management. It is not easy. There is a big crowd outside. The woman in-charge here is trying. Let other millionaires keep up doing these things like this to help society.”
And a young lady from Port Harcourt told us, “I came for a routine check-up I got drugs and a pair of glasses that I am holding here. There’s a crowd outside but everything is organized. They don’t look at face. Everyone is seen turn by turn. Not a dime. All free of charge. I saw the announcement on Facebook.”
I know a child in my area in rumuigbo who cant see with one eyes and the doctors said its cataract. They cant afford the operation. Is the out teach still on