Seplat gives free eye treatment to indigenes of its host communities

An oil and gas exploration company, Seplat Petroleum Development Company has given free eye, hypertension and diabetes treatments as well as medical counseling to indigenes of Ugborhen and other communities in Sapele local government, Delta State in its "Eye Can See" programme”.

In an exclusive chat with Fresh Angle, the Team Leader, Seplat, Mrs. Esther Icha explained that since the programme started in the last three years the company have performed over 800 eye surgeries on people living in communities within its areas of operation.

Mrs. Esther Icha who had earlier described the Seplat Eye Can See programme as one that is committed to uplifting the lives of people within its areas of operations said about 250 people have benefitted from medical programmes of the company, including surgeries while over 4,000 eye glasses have been giving out.

She averred that the programme is not restricted to eye as Seplat in conjunction with Medical Women's Association of Nigeria also performed cataract surgeries on some of the people with specialized doctors to ensure 100% success of the programme.

The Seplat Team Leader noted that the company has carried out similar programme in communities such as Morsogar, Okrigwe, Amukpe, Urapele and Ugbokodo in Okpe local government, noting that there are plans by the company to carry out same programme in Orogun Community.

Mrs. Esther Icha fielding questions from journalists

President General of Ugborhen Community, Chief Anthony Amitaye in a statement called on Seplat Petroleum Development Company to do more in terms of development for the community, stressing that the community lacks many basic amenities.

Chief Amitaye who described Ugborhen as a community in "shamble and cut off" from the entire world in terms of communication, promised to give Seplat a conducive atmosphere to operate, even as he commended the oil firm for its kind gesture.
The Chief Nursing Officer of Ugborhen Community Health Centre, Mrs. Beauty Ovwile in a remark stated that of all the tests carried out so far on people of Ugborhen Community, including HIV/AIDS, none tested positive to the deadly disease.

One of the beneficiaries of the "Eye Can See" surgery, 67-year old Mrs. Ojigbo who spoke through her son, Wisdom Ojigbo commended Seplat for the free medical programme. She had been blind for about three years.

One of the beneficiaries, 67- year old Mrs. Ojigbo after the surgery

Another beneficiary from Abbe Community,75-year old  James Onyeson who spoke through his daughter, Miss Florence Onyeson said he became blind and deaf due to a kerosene accident he had three years ago. According to him, he started seeing with one of his eyes after a successful surgery courtesy of the Seplat's "Eye Can See" programme.

×