By: Manoah Kikekon
Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, the Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Marking his first year in office has flagged off NNPC-SNEPCo Vision First Plus Programme. The milestone event also featured a passionate appeal to corporate partners for the establishment of a permanent eye care facility in the historic coastal town.
The five-day free medical outreach is organized by the Badagry Local Government in strategic partnership with NNPC Limited, SNEPCo, Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, ExxonMobil, and AGIP. The comprehensive health intervention is currently taking place at the Ajara Flagship Primary Health Centre, Mango, Ajara, serving residents of Badagry and neighboring communities.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, Hon. Hunpe described the initiative as a landmark solution designed to alleviate the health burdens of rural and underserved populations, particularly those battling preventable and treatable visual impairments.
He noted that specialized eye care has historically been a neglected area for many grassroots residents, who are often forced to endure long and costly journeys to central Lagos just to see a specialist.
"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," Hunpe stated.
The council chairman emphasized that the medical outreach aligns seamlessly with his administration's vision of strengthening grassroots healthcare delivery under the Greater Badagry Rising Agenda.
Capitalizing on the momentum of the partnership, Hunpe made a compelling appeal to the corporate sponsors to extend their collaboration beyond the five-day window and invest in a permanent medical legacy for the local government area.
"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.
Representing the Executive Vice President of SNEPCo Exploration, the General Manager of Exploration and Development, Mr. Abubakar Ahmed, explained that the Vision First Plus Programme is structured to restore human dignity, confidence, and productivity by widening healthcare access in remote regions.
Highlighting the broader footprint of the initiative, Ahmed disclosed that the program has successfully:
Screened over 7,700 individuals.
Dispensed more than 2,058 prescription glasses.
Provided essential medications to over 3,170 beneficiaries.
Conducted more than 574 vision-restoring procedures, including life-changing cataract surgeries.
Echoing similar sentiments on behalf of the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Mr. Usman Muhammed Bello reiterated the corporation's unwavering commitment to sustainable community development through targeted health interventions.
Goodwill messages were also shared by top health officials from the Lagos State Government, including Dr. Ifeyemi Adediran (Director of Blindness Prevention) and Dr. Asiyanbi Oladapo (Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health District V), who both commended the synergy between the local government and corporate partners while urging residents to maximize the free services. Oladapo called more support from none Governmental organisations to further improve health facilities within the state.
The massive turnout on opening day underscored the critical need for accessible healthcare in the region. Official statistics from the opening day revealed: 583 total residents registered. 462 received nursing triage services. 377 underwent comprehensive laboratory investigations. 280 benefited from general medical consultations. 219 accessed specialized eye care services. 259 received free prescription medications. 38 successful eye surgeries were performed on the first day alone.
The medical outreach runs through Friday, August 14, offering a robust package of health services including eye screenings, cataract and pterygium surgeries, distribution of reading glasses and eye drops, cardiovascular screenings, treatment of minor ailments, and free medication dispensing.