DUFUHS Treats 179 free Eyes Surgeries, 2,233 others in Ebonyi
Onyekachi Nnabu
The Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu (DUFUHS), in Ebonyi state, Prof. Jesse Uneke has disclosed that 2,412 patients have accessed free eyes treatment within 6 months at the ultramodern Eye Center of the institution.
Briefing newsmen after a tour of the Eye Center and Institute For Eye Health and Visual Sciences Research (IEHVSR), the Vice Chancellor explained that 179 patients had free eyes surgeries while 168 persons were treated of Glaucoma.
According to Prof. Uneke, other major cases treated included 1,352 Refractive errors; 627 for Cataracts and 265 other eye conditions.
The University Don added that out of the 2,412 treated persons, 918 were men, while 1302 were women and 192 children.
He further added that total of 1,000 free eye glasses have been given out including 400 reading eye glasses and 600 prescription eye glasses.
“Eye conditions are remarkably common. It is a well known fact that those who live long enough will experience at least one eye condition during their lifetime. The DUFUHS ultramodern Eye Center and Institute For Eye Health and Visual Sciences Research (IEHVSR) are state-of-the-art establishments for Excellence in Eye Research, Training and Patient Care, which are domiciled in this facility”.
“The DUFUHS Free Eye Care Initiative/Eye Research is funded from the DUFUHS Health Endowment Fund which was launched in January 2025. Since the launch of the Health Endowment Fund, generous donations have been received from organizations, philanthropists, politicians, members of the university community and from the friends and well wishers of the university”.
“We have witnessed unprecedented increase in the number of persons with different eye challenges visiting the facility to access various types of eye services including eye treatments and eye counseling. As a result of the high influx of people visiting the facility, research activities have also tremendously increased at the facility”.
“It is our hope that this facility will contribute in no small measure in the advancement of scientific research and training in the eye speciality and for the improvement of the quality of life through eye care, research and development for a better society for us all, the VC said.
Uneke called on Corporate organizations, and the general public to donate funds for the purchase of free eye glasses, drugs and other essential items needed for free eye services at the facility.
He assured that the University would continue to fulfill it’s mandate of training, research and community development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
