By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
No fewer than 406 persons with various eye ailments in Sabon Birni and Isa local governments of Sokoto State have been treated under the free eye care programme of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakkko, representing Sokoto North Senatorial District.
The free medical outreach programme was Thursday flagged off the free medical outreach programme at Sabon birni town, headquarters of Sabin Birni local government.
The programme targets 3,150 persons suffering from various eye ailments, in nineteen local governments across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
This is contained in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Bashir Rabe Mani and issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Saturday.
The statement quoted the Director of Administration for the Senator, Alhaji Al-Mustapha Alkali, as saying that, 181 and 225 persons were treated in Sabon-Birni and Isa local governments, respectively, in the first two days of the exercise on January 4th and 5th, 2018.
Alhaji Alkali expressed happiness that, the exercise was recording huge successes, saying, ” this is very heart warming .”
The statement said that, the free medical outreach is being conducted by Dr Emmanuel Aghalu and and Dr John Uzomah, who are Optometrists working for Dr ( Mrs) Awawu Obasi Eye Foundation .
It further said that, the areas of treatment include refractive errors, with eye glasses, infections like conjunctivitis, as well as uveitis.
Senator Wamakko, who was represented by his Director of Administration, Alhaji Al-Mustapha Alkali, flagged off the exercise at the Sabin Birni General Hospital, Sabon Birni Local Government.
Senator Wamakko explained that, the gesture was aimed at alleviating the suffering of the indigent people of the state.
” Health is wealth, a healthy society is a wealthy society, ” the Lawmaker who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee was quoted as adding.
Senator Wamakko further pledged to do everything humanly possible to further improve the living standard of the generality of the people of the state.
Dr Emmanuel Aghalu said that, the commonest ailments in the area were cataract and pesbyopia, which is age-related.
He pledged that the team would be diligent in the conduct of the exercise, even as he commended the orderliness of the beneficiaries.
A cross section of the beneficiaries lauded Senator Wamakko for the gesture.
The District Heads of Sabon-Birni and Unguwar Lalle, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Bawa and Alhaji Haruna Salihu Mainasara, respectively, also commended Senator Wamakko for coming to the rescue of the people of the state.
The traditional rulers also admonished other wealthy individuals, as well as elected and appointed officials to emulate Senator Wamakko , to further alleviate the suffering of the people.
The statement recalled that, the first phase of the programme conducted between July and August, 2017, in the eight local governments under the Sokoto North Senatorial District, covered no fewer than 1,300 eye patients.
