About 3,000 residents of Eti-Osa Constituency II have benefited from the ninth edition of the Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu (GOY) Free Eye Healthcare Programme.

The initiative, sponsored annually by Hon. Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu, offers a wide range of free eye care services, including consultations, eye pressure and visual acuity tests, refraction exams, and blood pressure checks. Beneficiaries also received custom-made prescription glasses, while the first 20 patients diagnosed with cataracts underwent free surgery.

Hon. Yishawu, who represents Eti-Osa Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, reaffirmed his commitment to improving the health of his constituents during the programme’s launch. He emphasized the importance of proactive healthcare and the need for continuous medical outreach.

“Health is wealth,” he said. “You may have perfect vision at 18, but things can change by 30 or 40. That’s why we’ve made healthcare a continuous priority—covering areas like dental care, cervical cancer screening, and now eye care.”

He highlighted that the initiative goes beyond providing reading glasses. “This is a full-service eye clinic,” he explained. “We conduct pressure tests, refraction, cataract screenings, and surgeries. We also refer special cases to clinics—all at no cost to the beneficiaries.”

Yishawu shared a moving encounter with an elderly resident who couldn’t recognize him due to impaired vision but was overwhelmed with joy after being selected for cataract surgery. “This programme restores confidence and changes lives,” he said. “For many, it has become an annual check-up they eagerly anticipate.”

Despite initially targeting 3,000 beneficiaries this year, Yishawu assured that no one would be turned away. “Even if we exceed our target, we attend to everyone who shows up. It’s about serving people.”

The free healthcare initiative, which includes eye tests, diagnosis, treatment, prescription glasses, and cataract surgeries, has become a staple of Hon. Yishawu’s legislative outreach continues to draw widespread appreciation from constituents.

Beneficiaries expressed deep appreciation for the initiative. Mrs. Adeduwon Oluwafunmi described Yishawu as “one in a million,” grateful for the chance to renew her glasses without financial stress. Muhammed Amilu said the programme saved him over N50,000, while Adeleke Oladayo revealed it spared him a N200,000 hospital bill.

Another beneficiary, Eze Gerald, praised the scale of the initiative. “To renew my glasses alone would’ve cost over N30,000,” he said, noting the effort it took to organize care for over 3,000 people.

Dr. Chapelle Gerard Oguneremu, an optometrist with the programme, highlighted the initiative’s life-changing impact. “This is our ninth edition, and eye health remains a major issue not just in Nigeria but across West Africa,” he said.

He reported that more than 500 patients were treated for various conditions, including low vision, reading difficulties, and cataracts. Over 400 pairs of glasses were distributed, and at least 15 patients were scheduled for surgery—procedures that typically cost between N500,000 and N1,000,000.

Dr. Chapelle emphasized the programme’s broader medical value, as it also addresses issues like glaucoma, high intraocular pressure, and hypertension—conditions that can lead to permanent blindness if untreated.

He also linked eye health to nutrition, trauma, and aging, calling on philanthropists and organizations to emulate the GOY initiative.

“Healthcare in Nigeria is expensive. Even basic eyeglasses cost more than the minimum wage. Hon. Yishawu is doing a remarkable job,” he said.