Nearly 3,000 residents of Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State have benefited from the latest edition of the Vision First healthcare initiative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo).
The five-day medical outreach, held in Badagry last week, provided free eye care and other healthcare services to residents from across the local government area.
A total of 2,297 people were attended to by the medical team, including 1,458 beneficiaries who received eye care services. The programme recorded 154 cataract surgeries, while 878 people were provided with prescription spectacles.
On the first day alone, 38 patients underwent sight-restoring surgeries. More than 200 general surgeries were also performed during the outreach.
Beneficiaries expressed appreciation to NNPC and SNEPCo, saying the restoration of their sight would improve their quality of life and enable them to participate more fully in their families and communities.
SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, said the company’s commitment to community development extended beyond its commercial operations.
“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,” Adams said.
The Badagry programme marked the sixth edition of the Vision First initiative since it was launched in 2022.
The initiative expanded beyond Lagos State late last year when its first outreach outside Lagos was held in Asaba, Delta State, where nearly 2,000 people received healthcare services.
Beyond eye care, the Vision First programme provides cardiovascular screening, medical consultations and treatment for mild and chronic illnesses, laboratory services, pharmaceutical services and the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
The initiative is implemented in collaboration with the Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, a Jos-based non-governmental organisation focused on providing comprehensive eye care to poor and underserved communities across Sub-Saharan Africa.
SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater oil production through the Bonga field in 2005. The company also supports Nigeria’s socio-economic development through investments in healthcare, education, employment generation and infrastructure.
The latest outreach underscores the role of private-sector-led community health programmes in expanding access to essential medical services, particularly for underserved populations.