Charity organisation renovates Eye Health Centre, Staff Quarters in millions of Naira in Plateau State

An International nonprofit organization, Sightsavers which is a leading charity Organisation tackling blindness in Nigeria has renovated an Eye Health Centre and equipped worth millions of Naira, also provided befitting modern staff Quarters at General Hospital Shendam, Plateau State to help solve the challenge of over a spiraling number of villagers in need of eye care.

The Eye Health Centre which is the first of its kind renovated by Sightsavers in partnership with Christoffel blinden Mission (CBM) and Plateau State Government to cover the whole of Plateau Southern Senatorial Zone as well as Neighbouring states of Nasarawa and Taraba.

While commissioning the renovated equipped Eye Health facility donated to the Plateau State Government on Tuesday, at General Hospital Shendam by Sightsavers and CBM, Commissioner of Health Dr. Nimkong Ndam said the project will elevate the challenges faced by the Southern Zone of the State which has an estimated population of 994,000 people without access to eye Health Services.

Ndam who appreciates Sightsavers and CBM for their kind gesture to Plateau State said a major challenge in the Southern Part of the State is an eye problem, saying there is no family without an eye challenge.

“Government in partnership with Sightsavers and Christoffel Blinden Mission International (CBMI) has renovated and equipped this eye health care unit that will provide comprehensive inclusive eye care services to cover the whole of the southern zone and other neighboring States.

The Heath Commissioner added that the renovated and equipped eye unit will henceforth make eye care services accessible and also reduce the risk of traveling to distant locations to access
services.

“We appreciate Sightsavers and CBMI for this magnanimous support to the State and assure you that the State is open to a partnership that can bring about development and improve the lives of the people”

The Country Director of Sightsavers, Dr. Sunday Isiyaku said they renovated the eye Health center with CBM contributing funding together close to 500Million and 600Million, according to him they have procured 70 million in the necessary equipment needed to provide quality surgeries in the Shendam Eye Health Centre.

“Sightsavers is working with CBM, government, and other partners to improve access to eye health services and cataract surgery for people in Plateau State and another part of Nigeria, we have work in Kaduna, Sokoto, cross river, Kogi, and others.

“We are also improving access to eye health services for marginalized people and people with disabilities and underserved areas of Plateau State”

He added that Sightsavers intervention is to reduced the burden of people traveling a far distance to get eye clinics.

He commended the commitment of the Plateau State Government and stakeholders to the actualization of the project in Shendam

“We need all stakeholders, especially government and professional bodies, to rise to the challenge and meet the demand for services in the country.”

Also Speaking Country Program Manager CBM International Mr
Omoi Samuel commended the effort of the State governments, saying providing eye health facilities is for accessibility to the people.

According to the Shendam eye Centre is very important because eye Health touches everyone and People who need access have the opportunity, to urge those in charge to maintain the facility.

During the Commissioning of the eye Health Centre Sightsavers carried out 25 free surgeries for villagers who have Cataracts.

An ophthalmologist from the Jos University Teaching Hospital JUTH Dr. Tenmang Panshak Elisha disclosed that 25 surgeries were carried out freely without a cost to celebrate the commissioning of the Eye Health in the Southern Zone of Plateau State.

A 63-year-old Mama Grace Ishaya who benefited from the free surgery was full of joy and appreciated the Sightsavers for putting a smile on her face after battling for years.

“I have faced this eye challenge for the past ten years now, I cannot afford the money for surgery, and my husband is also sick, but God has answered my prayers by bringing Sightsavers and CBM to give me sight again, May God bless them, whatever they are looking for may God give them”

Another beneficiary Baba Elisha Damulak 69 years old couldn’t hide his Joy, said he has been saving money to travel to Jos, the Plateau State Capital to have his surgery, but God has finally sent sight savers to his rescue in Shendam.

According to him, he has suffered from the eye challenge for the past two years, but was happy the surgery was done to him freely. “I want to thank CBM and Sightsavers, they have indeed saved me,” he said.