Free Eye Care Outreach Benefits Over 300 Commercial Drivers in Rivers State

No fewer than 334 individuals, including 256 commercial drivers, have benefited from free medicated glasses during a five-day visual health outreach organised across major motor parks in Rivers State.

The initiative, carried out by the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) in partnership with TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, targeted commercial drivers in Mile 1, Mile 3, Rumuokoro, Choba, and Okehi motor parks located in Port Harcourt, Obio Akpor, and Etche local government areas.

Beyond the distribution of medicated glasses, the outreach screened a total of 847 individuals, provided eye medications to 302 drivers, and referred 87 persons for further specialist care.

Baseline findings from the exercise revealed a significant gap in eye health awareness among commercial drivers. According to data gathered during the outreach, 67 per cent of screened drivers had never undergone an eye test, while 86 per cent were unaware of where to access professional eye care services.

Speaking on the initiative, the Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Matthieu Bouyer, explained that the project was designed to create awareness about the importance of routine eye examinations for commercial drivers across the country.

The Managing Director of NSSF, Dr Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, noted that many drivers operate daily without access to regular eye checks, despite relying heavily on their vision to earn a living and ensure the safety of passengers and other road users.

“Commercial drivers rely on their eyesight every day to earn a living and ensure the safety of passengers and other road users. Yet many operate without access to routine eye checks,” she said.

She added that the outreach was aimed at removing barriers to healthcare access, strengthening awareness of preventive eye health, and contributing to safer roads.

“Partnerships like this demonstrate how collaborative action can deliver practical, life-changing results within communities,” Chinye-Nwoko stated.

The exercise received strong support from transport unions and motor park leadership, with NSSF pledging to continue advocating for routine eye screenings and to strengthen referral networks beyond the outreach period.