A free eye care programme, "Eye Can See", has been launched in Akwa Ibom State by Seplat Energy Plc and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Joint Venture. The programme, which began in Uyo, aims to provide medical interventions, including eye screening, treatment, provision of reading glasses, and cataract surgeries, to residents at no cost. Large numbers of residents have already been attended to, with many undergoing sight-restoring cataract surgeries.
The programme will move to Eket and subsequently Ibeno, with Seplat Energy's Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Effiong Okon, assuring residents that eligible patients will receive the required treatment without financial barriers. Patients will also be screened for other health conditions that may otherwise go unnoticed. Okon emphasized that there are no fees and no conditions, and nobody will be turned away.
Deputy Governor Senator Akon Eyakenyi, speaking on behalf of Governor Umo Eno, commended Seplat Energy and NNPC for the intervention, describing it as a timely response to avoidable blindness and a practical contribution to improving the well-being of residents. Eyakenyi noted that the Nigerian National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey attributed about 43 per cent of blindness cases in Nigeria to cataracts.
Chairman of Seplat Energy, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said the company extended the "Eye Can See" programme to Akwa Ibom following its acquisition of the MPNU assets and its commitment to contributing to the development of communities where it operates. Udo Udoma emphasized that social investment is an essential component of responsible business.
One beneficiary of the programme, Alfred Elvis, expressed his gratitude to Seplat for the intervention, saying he had almost lost hope after a cataract progressively deprived him of sight in his left eye. Elvis said his ordeal began in July last year when he noticed blurred vision in the affected eye and underwent several tests at different health facilities before being diagnosed with cataract.
Elvis's condition made it difficult for him to cross roads at night and affected his interaction with people. He said the successful surgery had restored his confidence and dignity, describing the intervention as "a miracle" and "God's gift" to him. The impact of the intervention was already evident among beneficiaries, with many experiencing improved vision and restored confidence.
The "Eye Can See" programme has been implemented in communities across Edo, Delta, and Imo states, and Seplat Energy plans to continue deepening its partnership with Akwa Ibom through investments in health, education, livelihoods, and local capacity development. The programme is part of Seplat's commitment to contributing to the development of communities where it operates.
Key points
- Thousands of residents in Akwa Ibom State receive free eye care through the NNPC/Seplat "Eye Can See" programme.
- The programme provides medical interventions, including eye screening, treatment, provision of reading glasses, and cataract surgeries, at no cost.
- Seplat Energy plans to continue investing in health, education, livelihoods, and local capacity development in Akwa Ibom State.
