In a city where many are squinting through life—some literally—Yaba Psychiatric Hospital and partners just turned “I can’t see clearly” into “let’s fix it for free.”
The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, has teamed up with Gift Health Plus Inc. to offer free eye care services aimed at reducing preventable blindness and improving vision in the Yaba community.
At the outreach held on the hospital premises, residents got free eye tests, screenings, and medicated glasses—all part of the hospital’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility push.
Medical Director, Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, said the initiative is about giving back and making sure cost doesn’t stand between people and good eyesight.
According to him, many people struggle with basic vision needs like reading or working, but can’t afford glasses or even transport to hospitals. The outreach, he said, helps bridge that gap.
He added that patients with more serious conditions beyond the hospital’s scope would be referred for further treatment.
From tailors unable to thread needles to others struggling with computer work due to poor sight, he noted that vision challenges were quietly affecting daily life and productivity.
Deputy Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Kehinde Alonge, described the programme as a timely intervention, warning that many people live with undiagnosed cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye conditions.
She urged residents to take advantage of such outreaches—and not wait until vision problems become emergencies.
Optometrist, Dr. Chukwuemeka Achimole, also stressed the importance of annual eye checks, noting that early detection can prevent conditions like cataracts and glaucoma from worsening.
On the partner side, Gift Health Plus Director, Mr. Chika Achibiri, said the NGO focuses on reaching underserved communities through medical missions, often supported by international donations.
He shared a sobering reminder: some eye conditions, if caught too late, simply cannot be reversed.
For beneficiaries like 65-year-old Mr. Bamidele Ogba, the programme offered both relief and hope as he sought help for worsening vision in one eye.
In Yaba, this wasn’t just a medical outreach—it was a reminder that sometimes, restoring sight is also restoring dignity.
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