“I had almost lost hope of seeing clearly again. Today, I have regained my sight through free cataract surgery.” These were the words of Emeke Odigili, one of the beneficiaries of a community eyecare intervention sponsored by Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) in Delta State.
The initiative, which covered selected communities across nine local government areas, including Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West, saw no fewer than 113 residents regain their vision through successful surgical procedures.
The programme, executed as part of SEEPCO’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), has drawn commendation from community leaders and beneficiaries alike. High Chief Godwin Ifeanyi Edema of Utagba-Ogbe Kingdom in Kwale described the intervention as timely and impactful, noting that it has brought renewed hope to many affected residents.
Implemented in partnership with the Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF), the outreach also focused on strengthening local healthcare delivery. An ophthalmologist with VCDF’s SPECS-CSU, Dr. Ernest Ogbedo, identified cataract as a leading cause of avoidable blindness, stressing that early detection and timely surgery remain critical to restoring vision.
Providing further insight, VCDF’s Programmes Manager, Philip Ukemezia, disclosed that the organisation, leveraging SEEPCO’s support, has screened 11,858 individuals and carried out over 1,070 successful cataract and pterygium surgeries across Delta and Akwa Ibom states.
Beyond surgical interventions, the programme also included capacity-building sessions for healthcare providers, with 87 health workers trained to enhance primary eye care services and improve public health outcomes in the benefiting communities.
According to the 2024 Nigeria National Eye Health Survey, cataracts account for 44 per cent of blindness cases nationwide, with over 1.1 million Nigerians living with vision impairment. In Delta State alone, more than 25,000 residents are affected by untreated cataracts, underscoring the importance of sustained interventions such as SEEPCO’s outreach.
