No fewer than 50 patients in Dutse, Jigawa State, have regained their sight through a cataract surgery outreach organised by the NEAR Foundation.
The surgeries were carried out at Huda Eye Clinic and Optical Workshop as part of the foundation’s ongoing efforts to combat avoidable blindness and improve access to quality eye care in underserved communities.
Beneficiaries, many of whom had lived for years with blurred vision or complete loss of sight due to untreated cataracts, expressed joy after successful procedures restored their ability to see clearly again. The outreach team described the impact as transformative, noting that what was once darkness had been turned into light for dozens of families.
The initiative is part of NEAR Foundation’s broader Cataract Surgery Outreach programme, which is conducted every Thursday at Nizamiye Hospital Abuja. Beyond Abuja, the foundation has expanded its services to communities across Nigeria’s 36 states, with recent medical outreaches held in Kano State and Yobe State.
According to the foundation, the programme aims to reduce the burden of preventable blindness, particularly among elderly and low-income individuals who cannot afford specialised eye treatment.
NEAR Foundation also extended appreciation to its donors and partners, whose sustained support continues to make it possible to deliver the gift of sight and renewed hope to vulnerable communities across the country.