AKURE -The Ondo State Government has distributed free eyeglasses to more than 7,000 people this year under its “Festivals of Free Eye Surgery’’.

Health Commissioner Kehinde Adedeji told newsmen in Akure that the distribution of the glasses was part of government’s initiative to improve the sight of the people.

Adedeji said the government had carried out three rounds of free eye surgery this year in its determination to provide health care for those who could not afford the cost of surgery.

He said that during the period, the government carried out free eye surgeries on 650 patients.

Adedeji also said that the state government had initiated a free eye test programme, which began about two months ago, to enable everybody in the state to undergo free eye test.

He explained that the free eye test would enable the people to check the pressure on their eyes in order to know the state of the visual organ.

The commissioner said that if the pressure on the eyes was too high, it might lead to glaucoma.

He said: “Prevention is better than cure because glaucoma in the eyes is irreversible and that is the reason the state government is offering free services to check the eye pressure.’’

Adedeji said government had spent N200 million this year as assistance to those with heart, kidney and spinal cord problems.

He also said that another N10 million was spent on assisting patients to receive medical treatment abroad.

The commissioner said the state government had also introduced free ante-natal services for women, while children between the ages of zero and five years received free medical care.

He said this was part of the initiative to reduce infant mortality, adding that government would improve health care delivery by increasing the budgetary allocation to the health sector.