By Hadiza Isyaku Abdulsalam
In a bid to promote eye care in Zaria, the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Abbas Tajudeen Iyan Zazzau, Haj Fatima Abbas, has partnered with Sight Boost Organization and a Turkish Philanthropic Organization to support the people of Zaria Local Government Area with medicines and eye surgeries.
Eng Jamil Ahmad Muhammad Jaga, the Chairman of Zaria Local Government Area, led the opening of the medical outreach in a groundbreaking ceremony at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Tudunwada, Zaria.
He explained the selection criteria for the beneficiaries of the project and commended the organizers, saying, “I have arrived at exactly the time the program started. I appreciate the medical personnel because some of them are my colleagues from university.”
The chairman also expressed his happiness upon seeing the quantity of drugs and glasses made available at the venue and the orderly manner in which the patients had composed themselves.
Earlier, Dr. Kamilu Sale, the leader of the team of medical workers, said, “We are planning to diagnose and treat at least 3,000 patients with cataract, glaucoma, and other eyesight problems, and all of them will receive free drugs and surgeries throughout the outreach period.”
Speaking during the outreach, Alhaji Aminu Ramalan, the Permanent Assistant to Iyan Zazzau, witnessed the project’s progress and urged those who were unable to register to stay calm, as more medical projects were forthcoming.
He added that, “Everybody is entitled – male and female, old and young, Christian and Muslim – all are entitled.”
Beneficiaries of the project expressed gratitude to the team and the current administration, praying for more opportunities like this in Zaria.