Abubakar Hassan, Minna.
A non-governmental organization, the Sani Bello Foundation, in collaboration with Graceland Health Development Foundation has held its free annual medical surgical ‘festival’ at the Kontagora General Hospital, Niger State, North-Central Nigeria, drawing beneficiaries from various states, including Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Sokoto, and Kano.
The chairman of the Sani Bello Foundation and a former military administrator of Kano State, Colonel Sani Bello (retd.), described the exercise as a meaningful way to celebrate his 81st birthday.
Colonel Sani Bello (retd.), who was born on November 27, 1942, expressed his preference for allocating resources to healthcare rather than extravagant birthday celebrations.
“The free annual surgical festival serves as a birthday gift to the community, providing solace and relief to those in need,” he said.
He expressed immense joy at putting a smile on the faces of individuals, who could not afford medical treatment.
Grateful for the opportunity to make a difference, Colonel Sani Bello urged affluent individuals to support the less fortunate.
Also speaking, Dr. Tohot Dogo, Chairman of Graceland Health Development Foundation, shed more light on the activities of the foundation:
“The success of their ten-year collaboration, highlighting the 13,000 surgeries performed, included procedures like eye surgery, cataract-removal, and the provision of glasses.”
The vice chiarman of the foundation, Dr. Usman Sani Bello, called on well-to-do individuals to complement government efforts in healthcare.
He mentioned the foundation’s donation of an incubator to Kontagora General Hospital, significantly contributing to saving infant lives.
“The foundation targets 350 surgeries for the year, often surpassing it and reaching up to 500.
“In-house doctors support the ongoing treatment initiated by visiting doctors,” he added.
The five-day free healthcare service is aimed at treating various ailments, including fibroids, appendicitis, lumps, hernia, and goitre, showcasing the foundation’s commitment to improving healthcare accessibility for Niger State citizens.
