1,000 Rivers residents benefit from NSSF, TotalEnergies visual health outreach
The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF), in partnership with TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Ltd., has reached more than 1,000 beneficiaries through a visual health outreach for commercial drivers in Rivers.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Marketing and Communications Manager, NSSF, Miss Esther Anolu, on Thursday in Lagos.
The statement said the five-day intervention delivered free eye health education, screening, treatment and referrals across Mile 1, Mile 3, Rumuokoro, Choba and Okehi motor parks.
The motor parks are located in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor and Etche Local Government Areas of Rivers.
“At the end of the outreach, 847 individuals were screened, including 462 commercial drivers.
“A total of 334 medicated glasses were distributed, with 256 issued to drivers, while 302 drivers received eye medications.
“Also, 87 individuals requiring advanced care were referred to specialist health facilities.
“Baseline findings showed that 67 per cent of screened drivers had never undergone an eye test,” the statement said.
It also showed that 86 per cent of the drivers did not know where to access professional eye care services.
The statement quoted the Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mr Matthieu Bouyer, as saying that the initiative aimed to promote routine visual examinations among commercial drivers.
Bouyer said the project sought to improve awareness of eye health and its importance for safe driving.
The Managing Director of NSSF, Dr Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, said commercial drivers relied heavily on good eyesight to ensure road safety.
Chinye-Nwoko said the outreach removed barriers to care, while strengthening awareness of preventive eye health among drivers.
She noted that partnerships such as the initiative could deliver practical results that improve health outcomes within communities.
Chinye-Nwoko added that the programme recorded strong engagement from transport unions and motor park leadership.
According to her, NSSF will continue to advocate routine eye screening in motor parks and strengthen referral systems to ensure continuity of care.
Newsmen reports that the Nigerian Solidarity Support Fund is a non-profit organisation focused on addressing key health challenges through advocacy, research and community initiatives.
