By Moses Patience Chat
Seplat Energy Joint Venture (JV) with NNPC E&P Limited has commenced the 2023 “Eye Can See” initiative as part of the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) signature health programme.
The initiative is designed to ensure the provision of eye care and surgical treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye problems within NNPC E & P Limited and Seplat Energy operational communities in Edo and Delta States.
The opening ceremony of the initiative took place at the palace of the Oba of Benin in Edo State. The initiative, since its inception, serves as an opportunity to lecture on ways to ensure total well-being when faced with eye infections and other health challenges, such as hypertension and diabetes.
The program is targeted at men, women, and children towards achieving the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) 3 on good health and well-being.
Other objectives of the programme include the provision of free optical treatment to members of the communities, the provision of free reading glasses and treatment of other related eye problems, and educating patients on ways to care for their eyes.
While speaking at the programme, the Director of External Affairs and Sustainability for the Seplat NNPC E&P JV, Chioma Afe, said that it was designed to ensure the provision of eye care. Afe also noted that a total of 96,411 patients have been screened, with 45,074 reading glasses dispensed and 4,218 surgeries performed on patients.
In his remarks, the Director of Seplat Energy, Effiong Okon, expressed gratitude to NNPC E&P Limited and other stakeholders involved in making the initiative a success.
He added that Seplat Energy and its partners will continue to work to boost the impacts of the programme leveraging relevant technologies and other resources whilst appealing to the company’s host communities to always support its operations.
While delivering his goodwill message, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, who was represented by Chief Stanley Obamwonyi, the Esere of Benin Kingdom, thanked Seplat Energy and partners for the delivery of the programme, which he noted had been consistent over the years.
“We thank Seplat Energy for the constant featuring of this Eye-Can-See programme, which has tremendously helped my people. We can only urge you to continue in this light,” the Oba said.
In his message, the Managing Director of NNPC E&P Limited, Ali Zarah represented by the Deputy Manager of Community Relations, Ajakaye Emily Ladi, expressed gratitude for the support received from the host communities and extended its appreciation to Seplat Energy for the partnership in implementing the Eye- Can- See programme for 12 years.
He further noted that the collaboration between the two entities is targeted at enhancing eye care and visual aid services, including surgical treatments for various eye challenges within the operational communities.
