The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Health and the Orile Agege General Hospital (OAGH), in partnership with Attom Foundation, has provided free eye screening and cataract surgeries to over 200 residents as part of its continuous drive to promote preventive healthcare and combat avoidable blindness.
The eye screening exercise was held on September 29, 2025, at Philips Junction, Olusosun, Ojota, while free cataract surgeries were carried out for those diagnosed with the condition at Orile Agege General Hospital on September 30 and October 1, 2025.
Speaking at the event, the Director of the Blindness Prevention Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho, said the outreach was designed to enhance health-seeking behaviour at the grassroots, particularly in eye health.
According to her, the programme aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda, adding that similar exercises will be held across the five divisions of Lagos State.
“This initiative aims to promote preventive measures against blindness through health education, provision of free eyeglasses, medications, and surgeries.
We also included children in the Olusosun community because many are unfairly labeled dullards due to undetected vision problems,” Dr. Erinosho said.
Also speaking, the Medical Director, Orile Agege General Hospital, Dr. Oluyemi Taiwo, commended the Governor and the Commissioner for Health for their continued support in providing sight-restoring interventions for Lagosians.
“Orile Agege General Hospital is renowned for excellence in medical care, and we are proud to be part of this life-changing initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Attom Foundation.
I urge residents to take advantage of such programmes while calling on public and private stakeholders to sponsor more community health outreaches,” Taiwo said.
He added that teams of surgeons, optometrists, and ophthalmic nurses were mobilized and prepared for the exercise, assuring that beneficiaries would also receive post-surgical follow-up care.
Sharing his experience, Mr. Waheed Adeniyi, a 67-year-old beneficiary, expressed deep gratitude, narrating how he had battled with poor vision for over six months.
“I always had to cover one eye before I could see an oncoming vehicle. Today, I can see clearly again after benefiting from this free surgery. I’m truly grateful to the Lagos State Government and the doctors who made this possible,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Alhaji Oloriegbe Abdullahi, a 57-year-old staff member of the Federal Ministry of Defence, said he had been referred to several private hospitals before hearing about the Lagos free surgery initiative online.
“I had been worried about the cost of surgery, but this programme has lifted that burden. The medical team was professional and kind. I commend the Lagos State Government and Attom Foundation for this initiative and urge more organisations to support similar causes,” he stated.
The free eye care outreach reaffirms Lagos State’s commitment to accessible, equitable, and community-based healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable groups.
