Since its inception about 8 years ago, the Uma Ukpai Eye Center in Asaga Ohafia, Abia State, Nigeria has successfully performed over 500 eye surgeries.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dr Anya Kalu, a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Phaco Surgeon at the Uma Ukpai Eye Center made this disclosure while reeling out the success stories of the centre.
Recall that the Uma Ukpai Eye Center was established for Clinical, Surgical and Optical Services on February 2nd, 2016. The Eye Center is the Ophthalmology Department of the King of Kings Specialist Hospital, Asaga Ohafia, conferring on the hospital the actual status of a Specialist Hospital.
It was gathered that the hospital, the medical arm of the Uma Ukpai Evangelical Association, came into existence in 1999 and began full operation in July 2000.
The hospital, which is a 20, 50, 100 bedded institution, is located in a very serene environment in Asaga Ohafia, the home town of the founder and chief executive officer (CEO), Rev Dr. Uma Ukpai, who turns 80 on January 7, 2025.
The hospital, it was gathered offers 24-hour services in internal medical conditions, general surgeries, ophthalmologic/optometric services, laboratory, radiology and obstetrics and gynaecology services.
“At King of Kings Specialist Hospital, we have dedicated Consultant Ophthalmologist; Optometrists, Medical officers, a pharmacist, Laboratory Scientist/Technician, Certified Nurses; and Nurse attendants. And most importantly, we care but it is God who heals,” Dr Kalu said.
Speaking on the Uma Ukpai Eye Center, Kalu said: “The center was purposefully and strategically designed to serve a cluster of rural communities, who hitherto would not have had access to affordable quality eye care services.
“The Uma Ukpai Eye Center Asaga Ohafia serves 6 Local Government Areas of 3 neighbouring States with an estimate of about 80 to 120 rural communities.
“From inception, the Eye Center was built to deliver Quality, Accessible, Available, Affordable Eye Care Services. The mandate gave Zero tolerance for Error. Zero margin for mistakes and Complications, bearing in mind the area of practice.
“The Eye Center was equipped with infrastructure that will and has become a Centre for Community Ophthalmology Training, for other higher institutions,” Kalu disclosed.
It was gathered that in 2021, Reverend and Mrs Uma Ukpai upgraded the Eye Center to have the capacity for Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery Services, which some refer to as “Laser Cataract Surgery”.
“The upgrade was a pleasant experience. Graciously and surprisingly, the average rural person already knows about laser cataract surgery. Everyone wants quality, and we are very grateful to Reverend and Mrs Uma Ukpai for this gift of sight to humanity.
“One would like to acknowledge that the Uma Ukpai Eye Center Asaga Ohafia, Abia State Nigeria is probably the 3rd Centre that has the capacity for “regular Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery” in Abia State and one of the few in Nigeria that is located in a rural area,” Kalu said.
Meanwhile, the Consultant disclosed that over 500 surgeries have been successfully conducted since the inception of the Uma Ukpai Eye Center. The breakdown showed that about 60 surgeries are carried out every year.
“It is in gratitude that I say “Thank you” to Reverend and Mrs Uma Ukpai, for upgrading the Eye Center. It’s easy to wave it off as a rural Eye Center. But apparently, we are no longer “rural” as it were.
“We have instruments that most Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria do not have. Rev and Mrs Uma, we may not know what sacrifices you have made, but God sees your labour of love and will reward you.
“May God bless you Sir as we wish you a happy 80th birthday comes January 2025, and may God grant you many more healthy and prosperous years ahead please,” Kalu said.