Ibadan Residents Benefit as Rolan Foundation Holds Free Eye Health Outreach

No fewer than 500 residents of Ibadan and surrounding communities on Saturday benefited from a free eye health outreach organised by the Rolan Foundation, as the organisation intensified efforts to improve access to eye care services for vulnerable populations.

The outreach, held at T.L. Oyesina Model Senior Secondary School in the Monatan area of the city, featured free eye examinations, distribution of eye drops and prescription glasses for beneficiaries aged 38 years and above.

Speaking during the programme, the State Coordinator of the foundation, Solomon Adewole, said the initiative was part of the organisation’s broader intervention to tackle the growing challenge of untreated eye defects among low-income Nigerians.

Adewole explained that the outreach was not the first of its kind, noting that the foundation began its eye health interventions in Ibadan in 2024 and has continued to expand the programme to other parts of the country.

“This is not the first time we are organising this programme. The maiden edition was held in Ibadan in 2024. This year, the outreach is taking place in Ibadan, Ondo and Abuja,” he said.

According to him, the Ibadan programme was structured to reach about 1,000 beneficiaries, explaining that 500 people were targeted to receive prescription glasses, while another 500 beneficiaries were scheduled to receive medications and other eye care treatments.

“Our target for this outreach is about 1,000 beneficiaries. Out of this number, 500 people are expected to receive glasses, while another 500 will benefit from medications and other eye care treatments,” Adewole said.

He disclosed that seven optometrists and six nurses from the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board Eye Unit were engaged to provide professional eye care services during the exercise.

Adewole said the foundation also collaborated with several institutions and community groups to ensure the success of the outreach.

“We partnered with the Oyo State Ministry of Education through the office of the Commissioner and also worked with the school management to secure this venue. We equally engaged community stakeholders, including churches, mosques, pensioner groups and artisans to ensure broad participation,” he said.

He further revealed that the outreach received support from the Catholic Medical Mission Board in Canada, which provided most of the medical equipment, glasses and medications used for the programme.

Adewole explained that the intervention was driven by data showing that many Nigerians suffer from untreated eye defects largely due to financial constraints and limited access to healthcare.

“A lot of people have eye problems but cannot afford treatment. Many Nigerians also do not have health insurance that covers eye care. That is the gap we are trying to bridge with this outreach,” he said.

He added that the services were provided completely free of charge to beneficiaries.

“Not a single beneficiary paid for the consultation, the glasses or the medications. Everything here is absolutely free,” he said.

Adewole also called on the government to intensify investment in eye health services and establish specialised facilities dedicated to eye care in the state.

He urged authorities to create stronger support frameworks for non-profit organisations working in the health sector in order to expand access to services for underserved communities.

Also speaking at the event, Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Olatunji Muideen Babatunde, who was represented at the event by the Eye Health Coordinator of the Board, Mrs Victoria Ogunlade commended the Rolan Foundation for organising the outreach and supporting efforts to improve access to eye care services in the state.

“We appreciate the Rolan Foundation for the great work they have done today for the people of Oyo State,” she said.

“Eye care is very important to the health of individuals. Many people in underserved communities do not have access to eye treatment, so programmes like this help to prevent avoidable blindness among our people.”

Ogunlade also appealed to more organisations and partners to support the state in providing eye health services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

“We want to encourage more organisations and NGOs to come to Oyo State and partner with us to render eye care services to our people, especially those living in communities where access to healthcare is limited,” she said.

Some beneficiaries also expressed gratitude to the organisers for the free medical services.

One of them, 65-year-old Elizabeth Adesina, said the programme provided her with an opportunity to address a vision challenge she had been unable to treat due to financial constraints.

Another beneficiary, Salami Olaide, 60, described the outreach as timely, noting that many elderly people struggle with eye problems but lack the resources to seek medical care.