SCM Staff Writer I Wednesday, October 01, 2025
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the Attom Foundation, has flagged off a three-day, life-changing free eye screening and cataract surgery programme aimed at tackling preventable blindness and restoring dignity to residents across the state.
The initiative, coordinated by the Ministry of Health’s Blindness Prevention Program Unit, began on Monday at Philip Junction, Olusosun, Ojota, with surgeries scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at Orile Agege General Hospital.
The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, described the programme as “life-changing,” emphasizing that eyesight is one of humanity’s greatest gifts. Represented by Dr. Modupe Bowale, wife of the Permanent Secretary of Lagos Health District IV, the First Lady highlighted that the intervention seeks to address the staggering number of Nigerians living with preventable visual impairment.
Restoring Productivity and Independence
Dr. Sanwo-Olu lauded the Attom Foundation and Aide à l’aide Foundation for their compassion, stressing that the initiative goes beyond merely restoring sight; it is about restoring productivity, independence, and hope to affected families.
She strongly encouraged residents to maximize the opportunity and prioritize early detection through regular eye checks, asserting that “good vision is not a privilege but a right.”
Echoing this commitment, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, expressed delight at the turnout and clarified that all services, including glasses and surgeries, are completely free—a clear demonstration of the State Government’s commitment to making healthcare accessible to all, regardless of economic status.
Dr. Ogunyemi highlighted the often-overlooked academic impact of poor vision on children, which can lead to mislabelling them as lazy or slow learners. To address this, the programme includes screening for children’s eyes, ears, and teeth to significantly enhance their learning capacity and overall well-being.
Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, reiterated the government’s recognition that good vision is essential to life and productivity. He assured residents that nobody would be excluded, as free corrective lenses and cataract surgeries would be provided to all who need them.
Crucially, Dr. Ogboye disclosed that the government plans to scale up these interventions, promising that the programme will be conducted at least four times a year to ensure more residents benefit from free and quality eye care services.
Tarik Abubakar, Director of Projects and Coordination for the Attom Foundation, praised the Ministry of Health for its dedicated Blindness Prevention Unit, describing Lagos as a pacesetter in healthcare delivery and a model for other states due to its structure and openness to partnerships.
He noted that Lagos is the first state in the Southwest where the Foundation is holding such an exercise, aligning with its mission to reduce the growing burden of visual impairments in Nigeria.
The Director of Medical Administration, Training and Programmes, Ministry of Health, Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho, recalled that international footballer Victor Osimhen, who grew up in Olusosun, is a strong supporter of the Atom Foundation. She noted his decision to give back to his community as an inspirational lesson for all Nigerians.
A young beneficiary from Olusosun Primary School, Kehinde Lukmon, thanked the government and the Foundation on behalf of his schoolmates, saying the gesture would help children like him to see better and learn effectively in class.
The free cataract surgeries will continue through Wednesday at Orile Agege General Hospital, offering hundreds of residents a chance to regain their sight.
