Gov Yusuf’s Eye Care Initiative Restores Hope to Thousands in Kano
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO — More than 2,500 residents of Kano State, on Saturday benefited from a Kano State government-sponsored eye care programme designed to combat preventable blindness and improve access to specialist ophthalmic services.
The beneficiaries received a range of free medical services, including eye examinations, prescription eyeglasses and corrective surgeries under the AKY Free Eye Screening and Treatment Programme, an initiative approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Speaking at the inauguration of the programme at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, said the intervention reflects the administration’s resolve to remove financial barriers preventing residents from accessing essential healthcare.
He disclosed that 1,000 beneficiaries had been provided with prescription eyeglasses free of charge, while 100 patients successfully underwent surgical procedures. He added that other specialised eye care services are being offered as part of the outreach.
Dr. Yusuf said the initiative was developed by the Kano State Hospitals Management Board and received the governor’s approval as part of broader efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve the wellbeing of citizens.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, described the programme as a strategic investment in preventive healthcare, noting that restoring sight also restores productivity, independence and dignity to affected individuals.
Nagoda said the Board conceived the outreach to complement the state’s healthcare reforms by taking essential eye care services directly to residents who might otherwise be unable to afford treatment.
He praised Governor Yusuf for supporting the initiative, saying the approval demonstrated the administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare and improving health outcomes across the state.
Residents from various local government areas attended the outreach to receive medical attention, with health officials expressing optimism that the programme would significantly reduce the burden of avoidable visual impairment in Kano.