By Abdallah el-Kurebe
406 persons suffering from various eye ailments have so far been treated in Sabon Birni and Isa local governments of Sokoto State under the free eye care programme of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.
A statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Bashir Rabe Mani issued to newsmen on Saturday said 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.
The exercise, which targets 3,150 patients across the three Senatorial zones, was flagged off on Thursday at Sabon Birni town, headquarters of Sabin Birni local government of Sokoto state. The Director of Administration, Alhaji Al-Mustapha Alkali, represented Sen. Wamakko.
The free medical outreach is being coordinated by two Optometrists, Dr Emmanuel Aghalu and Dr John Uzomah for Dr. (Mrs) Awawu Obasi Eye Foundation.
The treatment targets refractive errors, infections like conjunctivitis, as well as uveitis.
According to Wamakko, “The gesture is aimed at alleviating the suffering of the indigent people of the state. Health is wealth, a healthy society is a wealthy society,” he said.
Dr Emmanuel Aghalu said that the commonest ailments in the area were cataract and pesbyopia, which is age-related.
While a cross section of the beneficiaries lauded Senator Wamakko’s gesture, District Heads of Sabon-Birni and Unguwar Lalle, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Bawa and Alhaji Haruna Salihu Mainasara, respectively commended Wamakko for coming to the rescue of the people of the state.
