A non-governmental organization, Ade Ti De Development Initiative, renowned for supporting indigent communities and promoting well-being, has provided free eye care services for 1,000 residents of Ogun Central, including medical eyeglasses and fully funded glaucoma surgeries for 50 beneficiaries.
The two-day medical outreach, which ran from Saturday to Sunday in Abeokuta, offered eye tests, treatments, and medicines aimed at tackling the growing cases of visual impairment in the region.
Speaking at the event, the founder, Mr. Adedayo Adelanwa, expressed concern over the alarming rise in eye-related conditions in Nigeria. He noted that an estimated 23 million Nigerians—about 25% of the population—suffer from eye problems, a situation that inspired the initiative’s intervention.
“We are committed to delivering community health support in any area that will benefit the people. My passion for this cause comes from the love I have for my people, and I want them to know that we truly care,” Adelanwa stated.
He further disclosed that, beyond glaucoma surgeries, the initiative plans to extend support to people with hypertension and diabetes, given their link to eye health complications.
Also speaking, Dr. Richard Ojeme, lead optometrist at the outreach and representative of St. Richardson Eye Consult, identified refractive errors and glaucoma as the leading causes of visual impairment in Nigeria. He cited WHO’s 2040 agenda, which emphasizes eliminating avoidable blindness, while noting that 77.9% of mild vision impairments in Nigeria stem from preventable conditions.
Beneficiaries, including Mr. Kunle Olakunle and Mrs. Wosilat Abegunde, praised the initiative for bringing hope and solutions to underserved communities. Similarly, a resident of Abeokuta South described the program as “laudable,” emphasizing that “the eyes are the light of the body.”
