An NGO, Sani Bello Foundation, has offered free medical surgery to no fewer than 250 people in Niger, according to its Director General, Zakari Ikani.
The NGO was founded by retired Col. Sani Bello, the father of Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger.
Ikani stated this on Wednesday in Kontagora Local Government Area of the state, during a free surgical festival in commemoration of the 77th birthday of Sani Bello.
According to him, the four day exercise will cover ailments such as fibroid, goitre, hernia, lumps and hydrocoele and eye related surgeries.
“Sani Bello, by his nature likes giving back to the people and putting smiles on their faces and that is why he has decided to organise this free surgeries.
“This operation covers such areas as fibroid, goitre, hernia, lumps and other areas where people cannot help themselves considering the hard times we are in.”
He noted that aside the surgeries, 1,000 eye glasses would be given while 300 other people with various health challenges would be given medication.
He said this was the fourth such surgical festival by the foundation; but the first in commemoration of the founder’s birthday with over 2,000 free surgeries offered so far.
“This is the fourth free surgical festival with over 2,000 done but this particular one has come up in commemoration of our founder’s 77th birthday, which is today.
One of the beneficiaries, Mohammed Aliyu, who underwent surgery for lipomer on the back, thanked the foundation for coming to his rescue as he had been battling with the ailment for long.
Aliyu said that the surgery would have cost him not less than N15,000 which he could not even afford.
“I am very grateful to the Sani Bello foundation for helping me out with this surgery which would have cost me about N15,000 in the hospital, and I don’t have that kind of money.
“I pray God to replenish their resources and grant the foundation the enablement to continue to do more for the masses,” he added
Another beneficiary, Racheal Michael, who had a lump on her leg removed, called on other well meaning Nigerian to help foot the medical bills of the downtrodden in society.
The NGO is collaborating with Graceland Healthcare Development Foundation on the event.
