By Yunusa Isa, Gombe
Hope Springs International in conjunction with the Servants of Hope Initiative, has conducted eye surgeries to over 75 patients from Balanga and Ɓilliri local government areas of Gombe State.
The eye surgery forms peak of a free medical outreach earlier embarked upon by the organizations to bring succour to less privileged citizens in hard to reach areas of the two LGAs.
Speaking to newsmen during the surgeries in Kaltungo, the chief ophthalmologist surgeon Dr Gandi Nathan Buba, said “Most of the eye patients are elderly suffering from cataract”.
Dr Gandi said the surgery which is being conducted in batches, is expected to cover the entire patients in couple of days.
While commending the commitment of Hope Springs International and Servants of Hope Initiative for the gesture, the eye specialist encouraged similar groups, politicians and wealthy individuals to copy from Hope Springs International and Servants of Hope Initiative.
He said “Many of the patients don’t have means to even transport themselves to the hospital, talk less of settling the surgery and medical expenses”.
He said the intervention has revived many patients’s eyes to live, without which they may end up loosing their sight entirely.
On his part, the Hope Springs’ Director of Operations in Africa Barrister Rambi lbrahim Ayala, said the patients were those identified during the earlier outreach, whose conditions require surgical intervention.
He said the two organizations drive pleasure in supporting the less privileged and the needy especially through provisions of basic amenities like water, healthcare and education.
Barrister Rambi noted that “Our goal is to positively touch one life at a time; one community at a time”.
Some beneficiaries of the eye surgery, expressed profound gratitudes to Hope Springs International and the Servants of Hope Initiative for touching their lives at a more critical time of need, praying for God Almighty to reward them abundantly.