The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) of Saudi Arabia has conducted an impressive 21,000 free sight-restoring surgeries in Nigeria since 2019, significantly improving eye care access for vulnerable populations

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), a humanitarian organisation from Saudi Arabia, has made a significant impact on eye care in Nigeria, having conducted an impressive 21,000 free sight-restoring surgeries since 2019. KSrelief Restores Sight to Thousands in Nigeria Through Free Surgeries.

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This remarkable achievement was highlighted by Mr. Mohammed Al-Sahabi, the Communications Officer for the KSrelief project, during an eye treatment outreach organised by the centre in Potiskum, Yobe State, on Tuesday.

Mr. Al-Sahabi also revealed that under the Saudi Noor project, the centre has carried out over 218,000 ophthalmic screenings and distributed more than 45,000 pairs of prescription eyeglasses to patients across Nigeria.

“This mission-driven project encompasses a broad range of clinical interventions, including diagnostic eye examinations, cataract extraction with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, treatment of refractive errors, and distribution of corrective eyewear,” Mr. Al-Sahabi explained.

He emphasised that “The Saudi Noor project is executed under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

He further stated that the initiative “reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s broader global humanitarian vision-championed through KSrelief-to enhance health outcomes and reduce disease burdens in vulnerable populations.”

This mission-driven project encompasses a broad range of clinical interventions, including diagnostic eye examinations, cataract extraction with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, treatment of refractive errors, and distribution of corrective eyewear,” – Mr. Mohammed Al-Sahabi, Project’s Communications Officer, KSrelief.

The ongoing outreach in Potiskum, scheduled from May 12th to 19th, aims to provide comprehensive ophthalmologic services to the underserved communities in the North-East region, with the primary goal of preventing blindness.

Mr. Al-Sahabi announced that the centre plans to conduct approximately 5,000 ophthalmic surgeries and distribute a substantial 130,000 pairs of eyeglasses to patients during this specific outreach in Potiskum.

Mr. Al-Sahabi underscored the significant positive impact of KSrelief’s efforts, noting that they have considerably improved visual outcomes and overall quality of life for thousands of Nigerians, particularly those residing in rural communities where access to essential eye care services is severely limited.

He also highlighted the global reach and recognition of KSrelief as a leading humanitarian institution. “Since its establishment in 2015, the Centre has implemented more than 3,400 humanitarian projects across over 107 countries.

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Currently, its medical and humanitarian presence spans over 30 nations, with blindness prevention campaigns actively conducted in Sudan, Yemen, Bangladesh, and Mauritania, among others,” Mr. Al-Sahabi added.