News Investigators/ No fewer than 600 indigent persons in Bida and surrounding communities in Niger on Thursday, benefited from a free medical outreach organised by the Etsu Yahaya Abubakar Foundation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach featured free cataract surgeries and medical consultations for patients suffering from various eye-related ailments.
The exercise was organised by the foundation established by the Etsu Nupe, Alh. Yahaya Abubakar, Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers in collaboration with the Near Foundation Abuja and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida.
Speaking during the inauguration of the outreach in Bida, Abubakar, who is also the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the foundation, said the initiative was informed by the increasing number of people suffering from sight-related challenges in the community.
He described healthcare as a critical component of human development and reiterated the foundation’s commitment to improving the wellbeing of vulnerable persons, particularly those unable to afford medical treatment.
The royal father said the foundation would continue to strengthen partnerships with relevant organisations and stakeholders to expand access to quality healthcare services and alleviate the sufferings of the people.
According to him, the gesture reflects his commitment to humanitarian service, community development and the promotion of healthy living among the populace.
He added that restoring the sight of affected persons would not only improve their health conditions, but also restore hope, dignity and economic productivity among beneficiaries and their families.
Also speaking, Alh. Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, the Managing Director of the National Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) pledged the organisation’s commitment to community development and improved healthcare delivery.
Sadiq-Yelwa stressed the need for strategic collaboration between the commission and the Etsu Yahaya Abubakar Foundation to enhance the provision of quality healthcare services to rural communities.
He commended the Etsu Nupe for his foresight, compassion and sustained efforts toward improving the living conditions of the people, describing the royal father as a symbol of peace, unity and humanitarian service.
The N-HYPPADEC boss assured that the commission would continue to support programmes capable of positively impacting the lives of the people, especially in the areas of health, education and youth empowerment.
In his remarks, Dr Murtala Bagana, the Niger State Commissioner for Health, commended the foundation for complementing the efforts of the state government toward improving access to quality healthcare services.
Bagana described the initiative as timely and impactful, particularly at a period when many vulnerable persons were facing challenges accessing specialised medical care.
He noted that the outreach aligned with the state government’s commitment to ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare delivery for all citizens.
The commissioner urged well-meaning individuals, organisations and development partners to emulate the gesture by supporting programmes aimed at improving the health and welfare of the people.
In their separate remarks, the Vice Chairperson of Bida Local Government Council, Hajiya Hawawu Adamu, the Secretary of the Etsu Yahaya Abubakar Foundation, Alhaji Musa Ladan, and health officials involved in the exercise, acknowledged the increasing prevalence of eye-related problems within the community.
They called for collective efforts among government institutions, traditional authorities, development partners and philanthropists to address the growing healthcare challenges confronting rural dwellers.
Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Etsu Yahaya Abubakar Foundation and its partners for the intervention, noting that the free medical outreach had restored hope to many families.
