June 15, (THEWILL) – The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), on Thursday, flagged off a 3-day community-focused Eye Care Programme for Onopa Community in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa state.
The eye care programme which is popularly known as “Vision First Initiative”, is a flagship activity initiated in 2019 in the Niger Delta under SPDC’s famous Health-In-Motion Programme, regularly held across communities.
In his address, the Director and Head, Corporate Relations, SPDC, Mr Igo Weli, who was represented by chief Amaechi Ucheoma, said Vision First focuses on promoting eye health seeking behaviour and supporting efforts towards the elimination and prevention of visual impairment and childhood blindness in its host communities.
Weli said SPDC is working in collaboration with the Bayelsa state Ministry of Health, Onopa Community and Pro-Sight International Eye Foundation to benefit the people.
He said the SPDC JV Vision First Initiative is adopting the Wealth Organisation’s theme for 2023, “The Right to Sight”, to continue to provide eye Care services to the people in the effort to eliminate preventable and treatable blindness in communities.
“The attention given to the eye is because the eye plays a critical role in every facet and stage as the light of our body and the world around us. However, it’s often neglected.
“Statistics from International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) reveal that at least 1.1billion people globally have vision loss. Some are unable to move without help (blind). Cataracts are responsible for more than half of the blindness, with 4 percent being childhood blindness. 90 percent are preventable and treatable conditions.
“The Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey estimated that 1.13 million individuals aged 40 years and older are currently blind and 4.25 million are visually impaired.”
Weli, therefore, advised the people to take advantage of the opportunity to receive quality health care. “Services include health promotion, screening, treatment (curative) and on-sight surgical procedures.
“Today, it’s my pleasure to invite and encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity. Be empowered with eye health information, be screened, and be treated for any visual impairment or challenges.”
In his message, the State commissioner for Health, Dr Pabra Igwele, who was represented by Dr Oputa Kemepado, said the eye is very critical to the body and, therefore, they need healthcare for the eye.
He said SPDC in collaboration with the state government is to carry out the treatment. “I call on everybody to come out and benefited from this kind gesture.”
Declaring the exercise open, the Paramount ruler of Onopa Community, His Royal Highness, Tamama Morris, who was represented by the secretary of the community, Wongs Goodhead Alex, assured SPDC that the programme will go on unhindered.
“We really appreciate SPDC and others that collaborated with them for this kind gesture.”
In her Goodwill message, House of Assembly member, Hon. Ayibanegiyefa Egba, said the eye is very important to the body and there is need to take care of it.
She said SPDC packaged it long time ago and this is the time for Onopa. She said, “Come out in your numbers and make use of this opportunity.”
One of the beneficiaries who underwent an immediate eye surgery, Mr Aherhoke Okioma, who is a Bayelsa-based journalist, commended SPDC for the outreach.
He said he was there for an official assignment, but decided to undertake check up and thereafter the doctor told him he deserved surgery and was ushered into the theatre and within 30 minutes he was out.
He appreciated SPDC for the kind gesture.
