Over 200 patients benefits from Lagos free cataract surgeries in Orile Agege
The Orile Agege General Hospital (OAGH), through the Lagos State Ministry of Health, in partnership with Attom Foundation, recently screened over 200 patients for free cataract surgeries.
The Eye screening programme was held on the 29th of September, 2025, at Philips Junction, Olusosun, Ojota, while the free cataract surgery was carried out for those who required it at Orile Agege General Hospital on 30th September 2025 and 1st October 2025.
In her speech, the Director, Blindness Prevention Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho stated that the screening exercise was organised at Olusosun Community in Ojota to improve the health-seeking behaviour at the grassroots, especially the eye.
The programmes, she said, are part of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, THEMES Plus agenda and are slated to hold across five divisions of the state.
According to Erinosho, “This initiative is aimed at promoting preventive causes of blindness through health talks, with the provision of free eye glasses, drugs, and surgery. Children of Olusosun community were also included in the outreach because some children are naively tagged dullards as a result of their poor sight”.
In her message, the MD/CEO, Orile Agege General Hospital, Dr. Oluyemi Taiwo appreciated the Governor and Hon. Commissioner for Health for the timely intervention of the surgery for Lagosians who are needlessly blind as a result of manageable conditions.
In his words, “OAGH is a facility known for excellence and special care, and the staff are proud to be part of the initiative in collaboration with Lagos State Ministry of Health, Attom Foundation and Orile Agege General Hospital. I encouraged Lagosians to take advantage of this free eye programme. I equally called on all stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to sponsor more of such programmes to benefit the community”.
According to Taiwo, “The Surgeons, Optometrists, and Ophthalmic nurses have been prepared ahead of the programme and are available for the period and even for follow-up basis, and patients will be assessed based on his/her residential local government area as a result of collaboration with other state public hospitals”.
Mr Waheed Adeniyi, a 67-year-old beneficiary of the surgery, has this to say about the programme, “I had been battling with eye problems for over six months, and I always had to use my hands to cover my other eye before I could see an upcoming vehicle. I am privileged to be among the recipients of the free surgery after so many back and forth with different medical facilities”.
Another beneficiary is a staff member of Federal Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Oloriegbe Abdullahi, 57 years, who said, “I had visited several hospitals and was always referred to private hospitals which I was uncomfortable with and I came to have his surgery done today to meet my medical and financial goal as a result of the information I read online about the government programme. I commended members of staff for their conduct in making the process seamless and called on governmental and non-governmental bodies to sponsor more of such programmes”.
