No fewer than 500 persons, over the weekend, benefitted from the free medical outreach sponsored by the member representing Ilorin East constituency at the Kwara state House of Assembly, Hajia Fatima Arinola Lawal, specifically designed for persons with eye impairments.

The beneficiaries of the exercise cut across the youths and the aged and it was conducted by a medical team led by Dr Total Bolarinwa of the Department of Opthalmologist, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

The Alabi Alasa- Idi- Ape venue of the exercise was besieged by the shortlisted 300 beneficiaries and non- accredited persons suffering eye problems.

The situation forced the sponsor, Hajia Lawal to increase the number of beneficiaries to 500.

Addressing the gathering, Hajia Lawal said the plight of a young person suffering eye problem motivated her to organise the programme for her constituents.

She said the programme was aimed at giving hope to people with eye impairment that there are remedies and solutions to their problems.

The lawmaker said the beneficiaries after the screening would be give free eye glasses, medication while those with critical condition would undergo surgery at a later date.

In his remarks, the senior adviser and counselor to Kwara state governor, Alh Saadu Salahu, said the gesture of Hajia Lawal would be appreciated more “if we put the cost of treatment of any ailment into consideration given the limited resources of most families.”

He thanked the lawmaker for her concern for the welfare of her constituents and enjoined other public officers as well as individuals to emulate her exemplary conduct.

For his part, a non executive director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Dr Mohammed Ghali Alaaya, corroborated Salahu’s submission, adding that the exercise formed part of poverty alleviation schemes.

The leader of the medical team, Dr Tota Bolarinwa said the exercise covered eye screening, surgery, instant medication and distribution of free eye glasses.

Representatives of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Woli Koko, Alhaji Nda Mohammed and Alhaja Ajarat Olokoba, thanked the Hajia Lawal for her kind gesture, describing the exercise as a great relief to them and their families.

The special adviser on media, Alh Bashir Adigun and the senior special assistant on religion (Islam), Alh Ibrahim Danmaigoro were among the dignitaries that witnesses the opening ceremony of the exercise.