The Rolan Foundation has stepped up efforts to improve access to eye care services in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), targeting at least 1,000 residents through a comprehensive free medical outreach.
Mr. Olorunisola Azeez, the FCT Coordinator of the foundation, said the outreach, held on Saturday, provided free eye screening, distribution of eyeglasses and eye drops, and basic medical checks for beneficiaries aged 38 and above.
The initiative was implemented under the Abuja Vision Support Programme 2026, in collaboration with the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) and the FCT chapter of the Nigerian Optometric Association.
Azeez explained that the intervention was designed to address limited access to quality eye care, especially among underserved grassroots communities.
He stressed that poor vision significantly affects productivity and quality of life, highlighting the urgent need for professional optometric services.
“The outreach provides free eye screenings, scans, medications, and prescription eyeglasses to beneficiaries who would otherwise be unable to afford such services,” he said.
He added that the programme, which began earlier in the week at the Gwagwalada Area Council Secretariat, moved to the Chief’s Palace in Garki within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to improve accessibility for community members.
“Although the outreach was held in Garki, beneficiaries attended from several area councils across the FCT. Common eye conditions observed included itching, pain, dryness, and difficulty reading close objects, with appropriate medications and corrective lenses provided where necessary,” Azeez noted. (NAN)