Seplat Energy has designated 13 centres to provide healthcare services to 90 communities in Delta and Edo states.
Its Director of External Affairs and Sustainability, Chioma Afe, at this year’s ‘Eye-Can-See’ programme at the Oba of Benin palace in Benin City, said the programme was designed to ensure provision of eyesight through surgery of cataracts, free eyeglasses and lectures to teach people how to manage their health, including diabetes.
She said Seplat Energy has through the eye programme which commended in 2012, treated over 96,000 people in its operational areas and carried out eye surgeries on 4,218 patients and given out 45,000 free eyeglasses to others.
Chioma explained that the year 2023 programme was going on simultaneously in about 90 communities in 13 different centres in Edo and Delta States, adding that the exercise would run for one month.
She said the programme in collaboration with its partners sought to achieve quality healthcare for host communities by providing a platform for managing and referring patients living with hypertension and diabetes, which are underline factors that also lead to eye problem.
Seplat New Energy Director, Effiong Okon, commended the NNPC Exploration and Production, the health personnel and communities for their support.
Managing Director of NNPC Exploration and Production, represented by Mrs. Emily Ajakaye, pledged continued collaboration with Seplat in execution of the healthcare programme.
In her speech, one of the beneficiaries of the cataract surgeries, Maria Aigbedo, commended Seplat for the programme.
“I am very happy for what the company has done for us. But for Seplat, I would not have been able to get the finance to carry out eye surgery. I thank the Oba and everybody,” she said.
Hundreds of people from communities in Edo and Delta States who had eye challenges were treated at the two-day event and given free eyeglasses.
