By Stanley Onyeka, Lagos
Nearly 3,000 people in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State were said to have benefitted from the latest edition of the Vision First initiative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo).
Some 38 patients had surgeries which restored their sights on the first day alone. The beneficiaries thanked NNPC/SNEPCo for the treatment, saying the restoration of their sights would help reintegrate them into society.
A total of 2,297 people were seen by the medical team of which 1,458 had eye care services with 154 surgeries for cataract and 878 spectacles dispensed. This was in addition to more than 200 general surgeries.
There were long queues as people turned out early from different parts of the local government area to take advantage of the services in the five-day outreach.
SNEPCo Managing Director. Ronald Adams, was quoted as saying: “We believe that caring for people goes beyond business; it is a responsibility and a privilege. That is why we remain committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen communities and create lasting impact.”
The Badagry outreach was the 6th since the inception of the Vision First initiative in 2022. Late last year, the first session outside Lagos was held in Asaba, Delta State where nearly 2,000 people received healthcare.
The Vision First programme incorporates other aspects of health care such as cardiovascular screening, consultations and treatment for mild and chronic illnesses, laboratory services, pharmaceutical services and distribution of insecticide-treated nets.
The programme has been delivered in collaboration with Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, an NGO based in Jos, Plateau State, which aims “to provide comprehensive eye care to the poor and underprivileged in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
SNEPCo which pioneered deepwater oil production in Nigeria through the Bonga field in 2005, also supports the socio-economic development of the country through investments in education, health, employment generation and infrastructural development.
We believe that caring for people goes beyond business; it is a responsibility and a privilege. That is why we remain committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen communities and create lasting impact.
Past successes
The NNPC/Shell Vision First initiative Badagry outreach
Is said to have continued to impact lives across Nigeria with more than 10,000 people benefitting from outreaches since its inception in 2022.
“Vision First is more than an outreach programme—it is a promise. A promise that quality healthcare should not be limited by geography, income, or circumstance,” SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, said in an address read by General Manager Corporate Relations, Abubakar Ahmed, at the opening ceremony.
Vision First, which is part of the Health-in-Motion programme of NNPC/SNEPCo, takes eyecare to underserved communities, with the health team also providing cardiovascular screening, consultations and treatment for mild and chronic illnesses, laboratory tests and pharmaceutical services and distributing insecticide-treated nets.
Hundreds of people in Badagry and from adjoining communities attended the 6th edition of Vision First which is being hosted in collaboration with Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, the Lagos State Ministry of Health, and Badagry Local Government Council.
Adams said: “As we celebrate the impact of this outreach, let us remember that behind every consultation, every treatment, and every pair of glasses provided is a human story.
“It is a mother who can care for her family with confidence, a father who can continue to provide, a student who can see clearly in the classroom, and a child whose future has become a little brighter.”
Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Olanarenwaju Igandan, said in remarks delivered by Advisor, Community Relations, Usman Bello: “I urge parents, elders, workers, traders, teachers and all residents to participate actively and encourage others to do the same.
“Early detection and treatment of health conditions can significantly improve quality of life and prevent avoidable complications.”
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, District 5, Dr Asiyanbi Oladapo and Chairman Badagry Local Government Council, Babatunde Hunpe, commended NNPC and SNEPCo for their longstanding support for the programme.
Executive Director, Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, implementing partner of Vision First, Prof. Olukorede Adenuga, advised the people to take advantage of the outreach as “a simple intervention can make a profound difference.”
Supported by NNPC and co-venturers, SNEPCo has implemented social investment projects across Nigeria in health, education, and human capital development among others, since its establishment in 1993.
The company continues to power progress in Nigeria by efficiently producing oil and gas in deepwater, developing human capital, promoting Nigerian content, and improving lives.
