More than 2,000 people have received healthcare services during a five-day medical outreach held in Lagos under the Vision First initiative, a joint social investment project by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo).
The outreach, which took place in the Mushin Local Council Development Area, brought renewed hope to many, with dozens of patients undergoing free eye surgeries and thousands accessing consultations, medications, and laboratory tests.
“I can now see clearly. I can see my beautiful wife again after years of struggling with my vision. I’m really happy,” said Ademola Alabi Joshua, a cataract surgery recipient. “When I came here, the first eye was operated on, and by the next day, I could see very clearly. I came back to do the second eye, and today, my sight has been fully restored. Thank you so much.”
Another beneficiary, Mrs Taiwo Onogu, shared that she had previously been billed N1.4 million for eye surgery elsewhere, which she ultimately received at no cost during the outreach.
This fourth edition of the Vision First programme in Lagos since its launch in 2022 saw the medical team perform 245 eye surgeries, including 198 for cataract and 47 for pterygium. A total of 1,992 individuals accessed laboratory services, while 1,863 patients received medications from the pharmacy. General consultations were offered to 1,652 people.
With this latest round of services, the programme has now reached more than 6,000 people, facilitated over 400 eye surgeries, and distributed more than 2,000 pairs of eyeglasses since inception.
SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, reflected on the significance of the initiative, stating: “Vision is a crucial part of life, and we’re encouraged by the testimonies from Mushin, which mirror the positive responses we’ve received from earlier sessions. With the continued support of NNPC and our co-venture partners, we remain committed to implementing impactful social investments. These initiatives have been central to our operations since we pioneered deep-water oil production at Bonga in 2005.”
The Vision First initiative was designed to tackle avoidable visual impairment through early diagnosis and timely treatment. It aligns with findings from the National Eye Health Policy 2019, which states that three out of four cases of blindness in Nigeria are preventable.
Organisers say they intend to expand the programme further, with a continued focus on reaching underserved communities and raising awareness about eye health across the country.
