Chinese consulate sponsors 120 cataract surgeries in UBTH

The Consulate General of the People's Republic of China is sponsoring a free cataract surgery at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Benin City, Edo State, which would benefit at least 120 people.

In addition to the surgery, patients who attend the exercise can receive free screening and eye care, and 20 patients will receive N2 million.

Prof. Darlington Obaseki, UBTH's chief medical director, stated on Tuesday that the free surgery will help 100 adults and 20 children, adding that it was a good approach to relieve the stress on the patients who would have had to pay for the procedure.

He also expressed gratitude to the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China for helping the hospital's eye patients, and he hoped the generosity would last.

"This is an admirable idea from the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China, and it comes at a time when patients need it the most," he said. Due to the difficult economic climate, this gesture will help a lot of individuals in the UBTH.

"I hope that this is not an isolated incident and commend the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China for these actions. The UBTH administration is also prepared to collaborate with the sponsor on such initiatives.

Jin Mingyu, the acting consul general, stated that the embassy and the government of China were happy to give succour to Nigerians through free eye surgery.

He stated that it was a way of giving back to society, while urging the people to take advantage of the programme to improve their health, noting that the Consulate-General would always roll out programmes that would help Nigerians.

He noted that there were Chinese companies operating in the country, adding that those companies are thriving due to the support they get from the government and its people.

He said, “The free surgery is meant to help people with medical needs. We realise that this will help Nigerians so we decided to sponsor the treatment. We are happy to sponsor this free surgery and I hope that Nigerians will take advantage of it.”

UBTH Head of the Ophthalmology Department, Valentina Okeigbemen, said that the programme for free cataract surgeries in adults and children, is sponsored by the Chinese Consulate in Lagos majorly and the Yongxing Steel Company Limited in Edo State, in collaboration with the Edo State Ministry of Health, UBTH and the Edo State chapter of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria.
"Our goal is to perform at least 120 cataract surgeries, 100 adult surgeries, and 20 paediatric surgeries," she continued. Thirty persons have been screened since we started on Wednesday, November 6. The screening is still going on today.

Every quarter, the department performs subsidised cataract procedures on adult patients as a service to the people of Edo State and the surrounding areas.

However, this program is special and the first of its kind because, first, at least 20 children will have cataract surgery, and second, adult cataract surgery will be fully funded. When we say "fully sponsored," we mean that the adults' surgery costs and medications have been covered, while the children's surgery costs, tests, admission, and medications have been covered.

"The Yongxing Steel Company Limited and the Chinese Consulate General deserve great praise for their efforts to help reduce blindness in Edo State, especially among the poor."

Caption: Patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital participating in the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China's free surgery program show off their N100,000 dud cheque with the Chinese Consulate General.