No fewer than 18,000 patients suffering from various eye conditions have received free eye care services and surgical interventions from the Mangal Foundation since it began operations in 2016.
This was disclosed by a member of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, Mr. Hussaini Kabir, at the commencement of the foundation's final eye surgery exercise for the last quarter of 2025 at the Katsina Eye Centre.
Kabir said that about 7,000 people benefitted from the programme in 2025 alone, noting the beneficiaries were drawn not only from Katsina State but also from neighbouring states and parts of the Niger Republic.
"Since the establishment of this foundation in 2016, more than 18,000 patients have benefited from this gesture. And in 2025 alone, no fewer than 7,000 were attended to," he added.
He, however, explained that screening of patients for the last quarter of 2025 began about two weeks earlier, during which many beneficiaries received free medications and medicated eyeglasses.
According to him, patients who required surgery had all expenses fully covered, including hospital admission and care.
He added that approximately 2,000 people were screened during the ongoing last-quarter exercise.
Reaffirming the foundation's commitment to enhancing access to healthcare, Kabir described the initiative as part of its corporate social responsibility aimed at supporting vulnerable members of society.
"Our objective is to support government efforts and reduce the burden of healthcare costs on the most vulnerable, particularly those who struggle to meet basic needs," he said.
An ophthalmologist at the centre, Dr. Ahmad Hamza, disclosed that many of the patients were diagnosed with cataracts and glaucoma, conditions that often require surgical treatment.
He stressed the need for regular eye examinations, explaining that early detection can prevent irreversible vision loss caused by silent eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
One of the beneficiaries, Yusufa Usman, said he had lived with vision impairment for more than two years but could not afford the cost of surgery.
"For over two years, I could not see clearly. Today, I have undergone surgery and I am hopeful that my sight will be restored. I pray that Almighty Allah rewards the Mangal Foundation for this kind gesture and inspires other wealthy individuals to do the same," he said.
Another beneficiary, Aisha Muntari from Bakura village, also shared her experience while awaiting surgery.
She said she developed eye problems about a year ago and had nearly lost hope before learning about the foundation's intervention, expressing optimism that her vision would soon be restored.