4000 regain sight as Saudi extends free eye care to Lagos hospital
Over 4,000 patients have benefitted from a free eye care and surgery programme of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Lagos. Out of the beneficiaries, 400 benefited from free surgical operation with 70 conducted on a daily basis while others got eye glasses and medication. The outreach programme of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and […]
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Over 4,000 patients have benefitted from a free eye care and surgery programme of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Lagos.
Out of the beneficiaries, 400 benefited from free surgical operation with 70 conducted on a daily basis while others got eye glasses and medication.
The outreach programme of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) tagged “Saudi Noor” ophthalmic volunteer programme commenced at the Lagos State’s Gbagada General Hospital on May 20 running through to 27th, 2025. The programme was in continuation of its global mission to provide critical healthcare services to underserved communities, marking a significant step in the Kingdom’s ongoing support for preventive eye care in Nigeria.
Under the programme aimed at preventing blindness, the kingdom stated that KSrelief has conducted over 218,000 eye examinations while more than 21,000 patients have regained their sight through surgical interventions since 2019 when the programme started.
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In addition, over 45,000 eyeglasses have been distributed.
Our correspondent, who was at the Gbagada General Hospital yesterday, reported that the beneficiaries were excited as they went through the surgical procedure.
One of the beneficiaries who spoke with our correspondent, Alhaji Abdulgaffar Issa from Ikorodu said he had been experiencing partial blindness for years until he was diagnosed with cataract.
According to him, he had visited several hospitals where he was given only eye drops prior to being diagnosed with cataract.
He disclosed that he was number 104 on the list and he eventually underwent the surgical procedure on Thursday which was successful and less painful.
Alhaji Issa recalled that the treatment would have cost him N1.5m at any private hospital including the cost of medication. He commended the kingdom for the gesture.
Another beneficiary, Adebesin Yusuf said, “I have been to a private hospital where they asked me to pay over N1m including drugs. As a civil servant, I had no idea where I would get that kind of money.
“I am happy I heard about this outreach and the surgery was very successful. It is less painful and I thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the gesture.”
Mohammed Alsahabi, Saudi Press Attaché in Nigeria, told newsmen that beneficiaries at Gbagada General Hospital received comprehensive eye care services, including diagnostic eye screenings, cataract surgeries with intraocular lens (IOL) implants, correction of refractive errors, and the distribution of prescription eyeglasses.
According to a statement to newsmen, “This initiative is executed under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It forms a core component of KSrelief’s broader mandate to provide relief to communities facing systemic healthcare challenges.”
He disclosed that most recently, the programme has been implemented in Yobe, Kano and Bauchi states, bringing relief to thousands in the northern region.
“KSrelief’s efforts in Lagos signify a growing recognition of the urban-rural healthcare divide and the need to address eye health challenges even within densely populated city centres. Gbagada General Hospital, a major referral facility in Lagos, now becomes a vital hub for this life-changing outreach.
“Globally, KSrelief has remained steadfast in its commitment to humanitarian excellence. Since its establishment in 2015, the centre has executed over 3,400 relief projects in more than 107 countries.
“Its blindness prevention initiatives continue to operate in countries such as Sudan, Yemen, Bangladesh and Mauritania,” he said.