3,000 FCT Residents to Benefit from Noor Dubai Cataract Eye Camp
Maryam Aminu
In a monumental initiative aimed at combating preventable blindness, 3,000 residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are set to receive life-changing eye care at Noor Dubai Foundation’s inaugural Cataract Eye Camp in Abuja.
Dr. Manal Taryam, Chief Executive Officer of Noor Dubai Foundation, made this announcement during the launch of the 10-day free cataract intervention, which will provide essential surgeries, eye check-ups, and glasses to the beneficiaries.
The camp, held in collaboration with Inclusive Eye Care Foundation, DP World Foundation, Asokoro District Hospital, and the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), marks the foundation’s latest effort in its global humanitarian mission.
Noor Dubai Foundation, a Dubai-based non-governmental organization dedicated to preventing blindness, has impacted over 32 million people in 23 countries.
Dr. Taryam highlighted the foundation’s ongoing work in Nigeria, including its previous successes in Kaduna and Katsina states.
“Our work in Katsina alone saw us improve the infrastructure of three eye hospitals and 250 primary care and vision screening centers. We also empowered local staff to better handle eye care. Through these efforts, we’ve provided nearly 12,000 successful eye surgeries and 25,000 free medical consultations,” she said.
The 10-day camp in Abuja is expected to screen thousands for disabling eye diseases such as cataracts and refractive errors, while offering 250 cataract surgeries.
The effort aims to bring essential eye care to the underserved in the FCT, with a special focus on the less privileged.
Dr. Gadzama Dan, Acting Director of Public Health at HSES, lauded the initiative, emphasizing its importance for equitable healthcare in the territory.
“We have mobilized residents from across the FCT to benefit from these free surgeries and eye treatments at Asokoro Hospital. This program aligns with our mandate to ensure equal healthcare access for all,” Dr. Dan stated.
Several beneficiaries expressed deep gratitude for the intervention, recognizing the high cost of eye surgeries and the scarcity of accessible treatments in Nigeria. “This initiative has come as a huge relief,” said one recipient, urging the Nigerian government to bolster eye care services in public hospitals nationwide.
