More than 400 indigent residents have successfully undergone life-changing eye surgeries following a massive free medical outreach organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Indo Eye Care Foundation.
The initiative, which ran from May 9 to May 17, 2026, at the Indo Eye Care Centre in Ajao Estate, targeted 800 cataract and pterygium surgeries to combat avoidable blindness among vulnerable populations across the state.
Government Applauds 20-Year Medical Partnership
During an assessment visit to the surgical center, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, commended the medical teams and partners for giving hope back to patients who otherwise could not afford specialized eye care.
Accompanied by the Ministry’s Blindness Prevention Unit, led by Dr. Ifeyemi Adeniran, Dr. Lajide praised Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for backing the initiative and lauded the Indo Eye Care Foundation’s 20-year history of collaboration with the state.
“I am truly excited and delighted to see that many beneficiaries have successfully undergone their surgeries and can now see clearly again. Seeing the joy on the faces of beneficiaries is very fulfilling. While government provides leadership and our partners offer support, none of this would be possible without the dedication and commitment of our healthcare workers who have worked tirelessly day and night to ensure the success of this programme.” — Dr. Dayo Lajide, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health
As of mid-week, the medical team had already successfully treated 427 patients, primarily performing cataract procedures that replaced cloudy natural lenses with artificial ones to fully restore vision.
Expanding the Fight Against Avoidable Blindness
The collaboration between the state and the foundation extends beyond surgical interventions. Dr. Lajide revealed that the partnership successfully screened 38,000 public secondary school students in 2024, with plans already underway to expand free eye screenings to both primary and secondary schools later this year.
Dr. Ifeyemi Adeniran, Coordinator of the Blindness Prevention Programme, emphasized that financial constraints often force underserved residents to live with preventable vision loss for years.
“This outreach is a critical intervention aimed at reducing avoidable blindness,” Dr. Adeniran stated, urging residents to prioritize regular checkups and utilize future state-sponsored medical interventions.
Beneficiaries Share Stories of Restored Hope
For many recipients, the free surgeries have transformed entire households. Christian Anumba, a beneficiary of the outreach, explained that he was inspired to step forward after witnessing the success of the same procedure on his wife during a previous edition of the programme.
“After seeing the positive outcome of my wife’s surgery, I became convinced that this programme was genuine and effective,” Anumba shared. “That gave me the confidence to come for my own surgery. By the grace of God, I am happy and grateful to have benefited from this service.”
Share this
