The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday launched a week-long eye care outreach under its Noor ophthalmic volunteer programme in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
The outreach, powered by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), began on Friday at the soon-to-be-commissioned Makkah Specialist Eye Hospital, and will run till August 7.
The organisers said the effort is a continuation of the Kingdom’s global vision to make quality healthcare accessible, especially in underserved communities.
Over 4000 residents will benefit from the free services which include advanced diagnostic screenings, cataract surgeries with intraocular lens (IOL) implants, treatment of refractive errors, and the distribution of prescription eyeglasses.
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Mohammed Alsahabi, Saudi press attaché to Nigeria, on Friday, said the humanitarian mission is being carried out under the directives of the custodian of the two holy mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“The initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader global vision to make quality healthcare accessible to underserved populations,” Alsahabi said.
He noted that the blindness prevention initiative, introduced in 2019, has delivered over 218,000 eye exams, enabled more than 21,000 sight-restoring surgeries, and distributed over 45,000 eyeglasses.
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Previous interventions have taken place in Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, and Lagos.
“This Ibadan phase marks another major milestone in KSrelief’s mission to combat avoidable blindness in Nigeria,” Alsahabi added.
He said KSrelief has implemented over 3,612 relief projects across 108 countries since its inception in 2015.
Its blindness prevention programmes are also active in several countries including Yemen, Sudan, Bangladesh, and Mauritania.
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“Through this outreach, Saudi Arabia continues to demonstrate its dedication to humanitarian aid and global health equity,” he said.
Saudat Olajire, one of the beneficiaries, said she had battled eye problems for nearly three decades but was unable to afford treatment.
“My eyes were examined and I was given medication. I’m very happy about this opportunity,” Olajire said.
“I’ve had issues with my eyes since childhood but never received the proper care. I thank them for coming all the way from Saudi Arabia to help us.”
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Another woman, Sidiqat Ogundola, also expressed her gratitude to the Saudi Arabian government. She lauded the initiative, adding that it is most beneficial to the elderly.
“Most of us can’t afford hospital visits, so we’re truly grateful to receive this treatment for free,” she said.
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“I’ll get my eyes tested and receive new glasses. The ones I’m wearing now are weak, they’re no longer clear. If I don’t move close to people, I can’t see them properly.”
“This is a very good initiative for us, especially the elderly. You can see how many of us are here today. We thank them deeply and hope for more of such support.”
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Below are photos from the outreach:
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