The Sani Bello Foundation, partnering with Graceland Healthcare Development Foundation, has delivered free surgical care to more than six hundred patients at Kontagora General Hospital amid security challenges bedeviling the area.
The initiative, targeted ailments like fibroids, appendicitis, hernias, goiters, lumps, and eye issues including cataracts and pterygium, included dental services for the first time and distributed over 600 glasses, coincided with his birthday.
Vice Chairman of the Foundation, Usman Sani Bello said the reason for the outreach is to help humanity and that despite security fears, the event proceeded after screening over three thousand patients, and the surgeries carried out exceeded last year’s five hundred and fifty, covering thyroidectomies, myomectomies, hysterectomies, hernia repairs, and over one hundred cataract extractions—each worth ninety to one hundred thousand naira.
The Chief Surgeon and Chairman of the Graceland Health Development Foundation, Kaduna, Dr. Tort Joseph noted that major procedures and referrals for complex cases, with the foundation funding treatments like neurofibroma at Kaduna’s National Eye Center, while beneficiaries came from Lagos, Akure, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and local areas like Gwada and Minna in Niger state.
The Director General, Sani Bello Foundation, Dr Zakari Ikani said that the selection was open via ads and texts adding that no connections required while beyond surgeries, the foundation said it offered year-round scholarships, vocational training, and a two-year-old malnutrition center aiding over 10 children this year amid economic hardships.
Breakdown of the treatment include 399 general surgeries, 117 eye operations, 199 dental procedures, 174 total toothpaste/toothbrush dispenser, 122 dental medications given, 91 tooth extractions, 59 tooth washing, 45 tooth replacement. A total of 4,680 drugs distributed.
PR Aliyu Lawal.
