Wild jubilations in Kontagora town of Niger state as over fifteen thousand (15,000) patients have benefitted from the free Sani Bello Foundation surgical festival done annually in the State.
It should be noted that the surgical festival which was initiated in 2015 through a collaboration between the Sani Bello Foundation and Graceland Healthcare in Kaduna State was motivated by the foundation’s determination to ease life for the less privileged in society.
The beneficiaries who could not hold back their happiness prayed God for the Festival to be sustained.
One of the beneficiaries, Zainab Salisu expressed optimism that she can finally have a child after living with fibroid for over two decades.
According to her “I haven not been able to conceive due to my health challenge but after receiving this free surgery, I am hopeful that I can finally become a mother.
“I am truly grateful for this gesture. I pray God to keep the Chairman and everyone who operated on us”.
Another beneficiary from Matane, Yahuza Saleh said that the outreach has brought an end to his travails living with a hernia.
Saleh thereby commended the sponsors of the outreach for the initiative.
Director General of the Sani Bello Foundation, Mr. Zakari Ikani while speaking to Journalists at the General Hospital, Kontagora said “this festival will continue because we know more people need these free services.”
According to him “this has been the habit and desire of Col. Sani Bello (the founder) that he sees these things happening, people smiling when their problems are relieved. So far, over 15,000 patients have benefitted”.
The team lead, Graceland Foundation Kaduna, Dr. Toth Joseph Dogo said that the program aims at providing succor to patients with various ailments requiring surgeries, who may not be able to pay for such services from their own pockets.
“This program is fast becoming like a national outreach program. We have seen most of the cases coming from other parts of the state and even outside Niger.
“We have treated various illnesses for free, which ordinarily will cost a common man between N200,000 and a million naira at a private facility.
“These patients are screened, operated on, and receive post-surgery treatment all at no cost. We even refer to other places for advanced cases if needed,” he said.
The Founder of Sani Bello Foundation, Col Sani Bello rtd. said that the medical outreach is a way to pay back the people of Kontagora who were responsible for his schooling while he was growing up adding that he is glad that there are smiles on the faces of the poor rural people who are mostly beneficiaries of these diseases.
“My interest and goal in life is to share the little I have with people. My Foundation is aimed to help everybody and provide education, health services and infrastructural services.”
Bello stated that he is thankful to God for reaching the enviable age of 80 pledging to commit more of his activities and resources to helping the poor in the society especially the people of Kontagora.
The week-long outreach, which includes free medical/eye surgery is currently ongoing at the General Hospital, Kontagora.
Illnesses treated during the festival include fibroid, appendicitis, goiter, hernia, thyroid, appendectomy, fibroid, hernia, glaucoma, eye treatment, and emergency cesarean section, hydrocoele among many others.
