…Targets 4,000 beneficiaries under KSrelief’s blindness prevention initiative
In a major humanitarian gesture, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday launched a week-long free eye care outreach programme in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, through its Noor Ophthalmic Volunteer Programme.
The initiative, powered by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), kicked off at the soon-to-be-commissioned Makkah Specialist Eye Hospital and is scheduled to run until August 7, 2025. Over 4,000 residents are expected to benefit from the intervention, which includes advanced diagnostic screenings, cataract surgeries with intraocular lens (IOL) implants, treatment of refractive errors, and free distribution of prescription eyeglasses.

Speaking at the launch, Mohammed Alsahabi, Saudi Press Attaché to Nigeria, said the outreach is being conducted under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“The initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader global vision to make quality healthcare accessible to underserved populations,” Alsahabi said.
He disclosed that since its inception in 2019, the blindness prevention programme has recorded over 218,000 eye examinations, conducted more than 21,000 sight-restoring surgeries, and distributed upwards of 45,000 eyeglasses. Similar interventions have previously taken place in Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, and Lagos States.

Alsahabi described the Ibadan outreach as “another major milestone in KSrelief’s mission to combat avoidable blindness in Nigeria.”
He also revealed that KSrelief has executed over 3,612 relief projects in 108 countries since it was founded in 2015, with its eye care missions currently active in Yemen, Sudan, Bangladesh, Mauritania, and several other nations.
“Through this outreach, Saudi Arabia continues to demonstrate its dedication to humanitarian aid and global health equity,” he added.
The impact of the programme was visibly felt among participants. Saudat Olajire, a beneficiary who had endured eye problems for nearly 30 years without treatment, described her experience as life-changing.

“My eyes were examined and I was given medication. I’m very happy about this opportunity,” Olajire said. “I’ve had issues with my eyes since childhood but never received the proper care. I thank them for coming all the way from Saudi Arabia to help us.”
Another beneficiary, Sidiqat Ogundola, emphasized the importance of the programme for the elderly, many of whom cannot afford regular medical treatment.
“Most of us can’t afford hospital visits, so we’re truly grateful to receive this treatment for free,” she said. “The glasses I’ve been using are no longer effective. This is a very good initiative for us, especially the elderly. You can see how many of us are here today. We thank them deeply and hope for more of such support.”