The Plateau State government says 100 patients will benefit from free cataract surgeries as part of activities to commemorate the 2026 World Sight Day.

Nicholas Ba’amlong, Commissioner for Health, disclosed this on Monday in Jos while commemorating the 2026 World Sight Day, with the theme “Love Your Eyes.”

Mr Ba’amlong said the initiative was being implemented in collaboration with Sightsavers at the Federal Medical Centre, Wase, in Wase Local Government Area.

He stressed the importance of early detection and treatment of eye conditions, noting that residents would receive free checks and screening.

The commissioner said eye health is not an isolated health issue but closely connected to education, employment, productivity, independence, social participation and quality of life.

He said many eye conditions could be prevented, treated or managed when people have timely access to appropriate services.

Mr Ba’amlong said the Plateau government remained committed to strengthening eye health services and making eye care increasingly accessible to residents.

“We will continue to support the integration of eye health into the wider health system, strengthen treatment pathways, promote community awareness and encourage early detection and treatment of eye conditions,” he said.

Mr Ba’amlong added that government would also focus on people living in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.

“Our goal must be an eye health system where every person, regardless of age, gender, location or economic circumstances, has the opportunity to receive appropriate eye care,” he said.

He called for stronger collaboration among government, non-governmental organisations, health professionals, traditional and religious leaders, community organisations and other stakeholders to improve eye-health services.

Mr Ba’amlong urged residents to make eye health a personal and family priority by getting regular eye checks and seeking professional care whenever they notice changes in their vision.

The commissioner urged community leaders, teachers and religious leaders to promote accurate information on eye health and discourage harmful practices that could endanger people’s sight.

“Most importantly, let us not wait until a vision problem becomes severe before seeking help,” he said.

Mr Ba’amlong commended eye-health professionals and other healthcare workers for their dedication, urging them to continue providing compassionate and quality services.

World Sight Day is marked globally on October 8 to raise awareness about preventable causes of vision impairment and blindness and promote access to eye-care services.

(NAN)

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada on Monday insisted that the Anambra State Government is threatened by the growing popularity of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Agada said the NDC would win big in Anambra State and that there is nothing Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) can do about it.

He was reacting to a post on X by @AnambraNewMedia, which said a vote for Obi would be a betrayal of the state.

The post reads: “A betrayal alert for Ndi Anambra. Do not be deceived by a man who abandoned his own house.

“Ndi APGA, defend your home. Resist the NDC. A vote for Peter Obi and NDC is a vote to kill APGA. Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him.”

Reacting, Agada accused the state government of resorting to cheap blackmail because it could not challenge Obi on his governance record.

He wrote: “It is now clear, even to the blind, that the Anambra State Government is threatened by the growing popularity of our presidential candidate, H.E. Peter Obi, and the NDC in Anambra State and beyond.

“I understand this mad obsession. The NDC is going to win big in Anambra, and there is nothing Soludo and his minions in APGA can do about it.

“Since they cannot challenge H.E. Peter Obi on his governance record, they have resorted to cheap blackmail.”