An American based medical outreach under the aegis of Lifted Hands, INC, on Sunday concluded its two-day medical treatment held at Uru village, Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, with fifty eye surgeries.
The surgeries were performed at Iyi-Enu University Teaching Hospital Ogidi, which served as a referral centre for patients of Lifted Hands INC. and its medical team.
Addressing journalists on the outreach, an Ophthamologist, Dr Obinna Arinze, from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, declared all surgeries successful.
He expressed happiness that the surgeries were devoid of complications, saying that
those operated upon were mostly patients with severe cases.
While noting that they have been asked to stay overnight for monitoring, he noted that others have been discharged.
Arinze said, "It was tough having to operate on so many patients within two days but we are grateful to God that it all ended well, now we will move to Abia state to continue with the outreach."
In his remarks, the President of Lifted Hands INC, Mr Moses Okaro, said that coming to Nigeria on this volunteer mission has been highly rewarding by way of interactions.
Okaro noted that the healing and the joy they bring to the faces of the people excited the entire team.
He hinted of plans by the team to return to Nigeria in 2025 to continue with the mission.
According to Okaro, the initiative which has lasted for 15 years now is an annual event in memory of his late mother, Mrs Gladys Okaro.
One of the eye surgery beneficiaries, Mr Pascal Obasi, said that he was grateful to God and the Gifted Hands mission for returning his failing sight.
He saud, "I would have had this surgery done but due to paucity of funds I could not achieve that, I thank God for this mission and the joy they brought.
"I am not even from Anambra. I heard of the mission and came from Imo state and they accommodated me. God will bless them," he said.
Also, Mrs Agnes Okafor, another beneficiary said that the surgery has given her a new lease of life.
"Our sons and daughters who brought this mission to Anambra from America have done great and we are grateful", she said.
It was gathered that a total of 15 medical practitioners, comprising of surgeons and nurses came down from United States to Nigeria for the medical outreach.
