By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
About 15, 000 persons, including women and children have benefited from the annual free medical services by the Sani Bello Foundation, an initiative founded in 2015 by the former Military Administrator of old Kano state and Niger state Governor’s father, Col. Sani Bello (rtd).
The Director General of the Foundation, Mr. Zakari Ikani, disclosed this in an interview at the General Hospital in Kontagora, venue for the surgeries. He added that thousands of Nigerlites, especially those who cannot afford the cost benefited from the annual free surgical festival.
The annual free surgeries or surgical outreach made possible in collaboration with Graceland Healthcare, Kaduna state, according to Ikani, was motivated by the foundation's determination to improve on the health needs of the less privileged in the society.
“This has been the tradition and desire of Col. Sani Bello (the founder). He loves to see good things happening to people. He loves to put smiles on the faces of people and he is very passionate about doing that. He had always wanted to see people smiling when their problems are relieved of them”.
Also speaking, team lead of Graceland Foundation Kaduna state, Dr. Toth Joseph Dogo, said the initiative aims at providing succor to citizens facing various health challenges that require surgeries, especially the down trodden who cannot afford the cost of such surgeries.
“This program is fast becoming like a national outreach and most of the patients come from outside Kontagora and outside Niger state to treat various illnesses for free. We treat for free, sicknesses that would have ordinarily cost between, N200, 000 and N1 million in private health facilities”.
Depending on the cases presented, Dr. Dogo told NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Correspondent that, “Beneficiaries are first screened, operated upon and thereafter receive post-surgery treatment, all at no cost. We even refer some to other places if it turned out to be more advanced than what we have here”.
The Founder of Sani Bello Foundation, Col. Sani Bello (rtd) said that the medical outreach is his own way of appreciating God and paying back to the people of Kontagora who were responsible for his schooling during his growing up days.
According to the retired Army officer, “I am glad putting smiles on the faces of the poor and the needy rural people who are mostly beneficiaries of the free health care. My interest and goal in life is to share the little I have with people and that is what my Foundation is out to achieve, including providing free education in the little way we can”.
Sani Bello who is also celebrating his 80th birthday said, “I am thankful to God for reaching the enviable age of 80 and I am pledging to commit more resources to helping the poor and the needy in the society especially the people of Kontagora emirate”.
Among the illnesses treated during the 2022 week-long free surgical festival included; fibroids, appendicitis, goitre, hernia, thyroid, appendectomy, glaucoma, eye treatment, emergency caesarean section and hydrofoils. NNL.
