* Bello

By Pita Chib, Minna

To celebrate his 77th birthday, Alhaji Sani Bello, father of Niger State Governor Abubakar Bello, choose to make free medical care available to  250 people from different parts of Niger State. The project was executed by his  Non Governmental  Organisation (NGO), Sani Bello Foundation.

The Director General, of the Foundation Zakari Ikani, speaking  to newsmen in Kontagora  during a free surgical festival in commemoration of the 77th birthday,
Ikani said, the four day exercise would cover ailments such as fibroid, goitre, hernia, lumps and hydrocoele and eye related surgeries.

According to him, "Sani Bello, by his nature likes giving back to the people and putting smiles on their faces and that is why he has decided to organize this free surgeries.

"This operation covers such areas as fibroid, goitre, hernia, lumps and other areas where people cannot help themselves considering the hard times we are facing."
Aside the surgeries, 1000 eye glasses will be given while 300 other people with various health challenges will be given medication, he noted.

The DG said,  this was the fourth of such surgical festival by the Foundation and today's own is in ncommemoration of the founder's birthday with over 2000 free surgeries offered so far.

"This is the fourth free surgical festival with over 2000 done but this particular one has come up in commemoration of our founder's 77th birthday, which is today (Wednesday) .

One of the beneficiaries, Mohammed Aliyu, who underwent surgery for lipomer at the back of his head, thanked the foundation for coming to his rescue as he had been battling with the ailment for more than three years.

Aliyu said that the surgery would have cost him not less than N15,000 which he could not even afford.

"I am very grateful to the Sani Bello foundation for helping me out with this surgery which would have cost me about N15000 in the hospital, and I don't have that kind of money.

"I pray God to replenish their resources and grant the foundation the enablement to continue to do more especially for the less privileged ones in the society,"

Another beneficiary, Racheal Michael, who had a lump on her leg removed, called on other well to do Nigerians to help bankroll the medical bills of the downtrodden in society.

One of the doctors, Dr Williams Ayet, who spoke to our correspondent, said standard medical procedures were observed during the outreach.

The NGO is collaborating with Graceland Healthcare Development Foundation for the event since its inception.

Founder of the Foundation, Alhaji Bello, is a retired Nigerian Army Colonol and former Military Governor of Kano State. He is also a businessman.