The Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government Hon. Babatunde Hunpe on Tuesday flagged off the NNPC/SNEPCo Vision First Plus Programme, a five-day free medical outreach providing specialised eye care and general healthcare services to residents of Badagry and neighbouring communities.

The initiative, organised by Badagry Local Government in partnership with NNPC, SNEPCo, Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, Exxon Mobil and AGIP is being held at the Ajara Flagship Primary Health Centre, Mango, Ajara, as part of activities marking the Chairman’s first year in office.

Describing the programme as a landmark intervention, Hon. Hunpe said it would improve access to quality healthcare while addressing the longstanding challenge of specialised eye care in Badagry.

“Eye care has for too long remained a neglected area. This intervention is helping to bridge a critical gap by bringing specialised services directly to our communities,” he said.

The Chairman thanked NNPC, SNEPCo and their partners for selecting Badagry as a beneficiary of the programme, noting that it aligns with his administration’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery under the Greater Badagry Rising Agenda.

He observed that many residents, particularly the elderly, traders, farmers and low-income earners often travel long distances to Lagos for specialist eye care and appealed for a sustained partnership that would culminate in the establishment of a permanent eye-care facility in Badagry.

“We are ready to provide land and every necessary enabling environment for a permanent eye-care facility in Badagry. Together, we can make the dream of a Badagry Local Government Eye Clinic a reality for present and future generations,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Vice-President, Exploration, SNEPCo, Mr. Abubakar Ahmed, General Manager, Exploration and Development, described Vision First Plus as a programme that restores “hope, confidence, dignity and opportunity” while expanding access to healthcare in underserved communities.

He disclosed that since inception, the programme has screened over 7,700 people, dispensed more than 2,058 prescription glasses, provided essential medications to over 3,170 beneficiaries and successfully carried out over 574 vision-restoring procedures, including cataract surgeries.

Also speaking, Mr. Usman Muhammed Bello, representing the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Mr. Olanrewaju Igando, reaffirmed NNPC’s commitment to community development through healthcare interventions. “Through partnerships such as Vision First Plus, we are helping to ensure that quality healthcare reaches those who need it most while creating lasting value for our host communities,” he said.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the representative of the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Dr. Ifeyemi Adediran, Director of Blindness Prevention and the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health District V, Dr. Asiyanbi Oladapo, both of whom commended the initiative and encouraged residents to take advantage of the free services.

Statistics released at the event showed that 583 residents registered on the opening day, with 462 receiving nursing triage services, 377 undergoing laboratory investigations, 280 benefiting from general consultations, 219 accessing eye care services, 259 receiving medications and 38 successful surgeries already conducted.

The outreach, which runs until Friday, August 14, offers eye screening and consultations, cataract and pterygium surgeries, dispensing of reading glasses and eye drops, cardiovascular screening, treatment of minor ailments, general medical consultations and free medications.

Also in attendance were members of the Badagry Local Government Legislative Arm led by the Leader of the House, Hon. Asokere Mautin Bankole; members of the Executive Committee led by the Secretary to the Local Government, Mr. Adagba Benjamin; council management staff led by the Council Manager, Mrs. Avoseh-Akwe Senami Oluwakemi; traditional rulers, community leaders, as well as representatives of the Community Development Committees (CDCs) and Community Development Associations (CDAs), among other stakeholders.