T. Y. Danjuma Foundation budgets N100m for health care

By Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

The T.Y. Danjuma Foundation has continued to create the needed impact in the health sector with its free eye camp which has so far spread to no fewer than eight states across the country.

In its recent outreach in Edo state, over 80 people have had their eyes operated upon mainly on cataracts, the leader of the team, Dr. Pokop W. Bubwatda said in an interview in Jos, plateau state on arrival from that exercise.

According to him, “apart from the eye surgeries; mostly on cataracts, a total of 860 patients were diagnosed with 553 given corrective eye glasses free by the foundation”.

The Foundation approved One hundred and fifty six Million, three hundred forty nine thousand, three hundred and sixty two naira (N156, 349,362) for 17 grantees to implement 18 projects .Eight of the Grantees will implement 9 projects in Community Health Initiative with a total grant of N100, 826, 102 while nine Grantees will work in Education and Skills Training with a total grant of N55, 523, 260 Organisation: Koyenum Immalah Foundation (KIF).

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It was expected that the fund will improve the quality of life and wellbeing of people living in 3 communities in Uhunmwonde LGA of Edo State through the drilling of 3 solar-powered boreholes; increase community awareness on sanitation and hygiene; build capacity for borehole; and establish community project committee to facilitate project implemen under its Care Vision Support Initiative (CAVSI)‎.

The grant will fund prevention of blindness, improve sight and enhance the wellbeing of 2000 less privileged in rural areas through comprehensive integrated eye care intervention in Ehor LGA, Edo state.

Also, the project will cater to Cataract surgery for 6 children under 18 years; provision of visual assessments for 300 secondary school children and 100 primary school children; cataract surgeries would be performed on 150 adult persons;1000 adults with presbyopia and refractive errors would be provided with corrective glasses; and 40 Health Care workers would receive primary eye care training.