Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Foundation’s (NNPCL’s) push against cataracts aligns with his administration’s healthcare framework.
Otti stated this at last week’s official flag-off of the NNPCL’s 1,000 free cataract extraction surgeries outreach in Umuahia and Aba at the State Specialist Hospital, Umuahia, the capital.
Represented by the commissioner for Health, Ogbonnaya Uche, the governor commended and appreciated the NNPCL for the outreach themed “Blindness can be avoided”.
He warned people against visiting quacks for eye care and encouraged them always to seek proper medical attention from professionals to avoid regrets.
In an address, the managing director of the NNPCL, Emmanuella Arukwe, lamented that cataracts are the leading cause of about 43% of blindness in the country.
Arukwe, who hinted that the NNPCL was considering conducting the outreach annually, lauded the government and other stakeholders for their support.
In a comment, the adviser to the governor on Health, Ngozi Azodo, said that since Otti assumed office in 2023, he had left no stone unturned in delivering quality healthcare.
Similarly, the traditional ruler of the Elu-elu autonomous community, Old Umuahia, Eze J.O Onwuzuruike, expressed delight with the outreach and thanked the governor for his giant strides in general.
In response, Betty Emeka-Obasi, the administrator of the State Eye Health Management Bureau, commended the NNPCL for the gesture and assured the bureau of its commitment to excellence.
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