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Massive turnout of patients greeted the flag off of the free eye care outreach by the O5 Initiative at Delta South Senatorial District.

The outreach is coming at a time when the world is celebrating the World Sight Week, targeted at creating awareness on eye care and wellness.

Flagging off the outreach today, Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area, the wife of the state Governor and Founder, O5 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa reiterated her commitment to restoring hope.

“While at Eku last week, we were able to carry out 108 eye surgeries and we are working towards multiplying that figure here in Oleh.

“Our goal is to reach as many people as possible, to ensure that the burden of visual impairment is reduced to the barest minimum.

“And that is why we keep appealing to our leaders to ensure they help bring their people so they can access the services”.

She went ahead to commend the Coordinator of the Restore Sight Africa Initiative, Dr Ernest Ogbedo for partnering with the O5 Initiative to bring eye care to the grassroots.

“We are not paying Dr. Ogbedo for what he is doing but he has remained committed to selfless service across the entire state, at the expense of his own comfort”.

The wife of the Governor also used the opportunity to call for action towards COVID-19 vaccination.

“We are still calling on everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves from the virus.

“Even if you do not want to get the vaccine, do not discourage others from getting it by spreading false rumours”, she said.

The State Commissioner for health, Dr. Mordi Ononye commended the wife of the Governor for her strides while pledging the commitment of the ministry to the health of Deltans.

The Chairman, Isoko South LGA, Mr. Victor Asasa affirmed that “Service to humanity is service to God and Her Excellency has been so kind to the people and we are very grateful”.

In his remarks, Dr. Ogbedo spoke on the import of the programme.

“There is no state in Nigeria that does eye care in this magnitude and while we move about our daily activities even in our places of abode, we encounter beneficiaries whose stories have changed”.

The free eye care outreach, meant to last four days covers all eight LGAs under Delta South Senatorial District and seeks to address issues of refractional error.

Correctional glasses and eye drops will will dispensed and surgeries carried out on patients who need it.