AMAC chair partners foundation hospital on free surgery, eye treatment
By Sadiq Abubakar, Abuja.
The chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Christopher Zaka Maikalangu, has sought for a partnership with Tulsi Foundation Eye Hospital, Abuja to embark on free surgery and eye treatment for residents of the council.
Maikalangu, while speaking during his visit to the hospital in company of some of his aides on Wednesday, said he was impressed with the philanthropic effort of the hospital management for rendering free eye treatment and surgery to residents and Nigerians in the capital city.
A statement by the senior special assistants to the chairman on media and pubic affairs, Kingsley Madaki, said the council administration will ensure that the hospital is no longer disturbed on payment of tax again.
Maikalangu, however, lamented that many people in rural areas lack the wherewithal to come to the hospital for free eye treatment, hence, his administration to partner with the foundation on free eye treatment and surgery.
He said: “I am overwhelmed and happy with your modest contributions to charity. I went round the hospital and saw many people from different parts of the country who are being treated here free of charge. And this gesture alone calls my administration to waive tax collection of any kind by your hospital henceforth,” he said.
He informed the hospital management that the council will foot the bill for the free surgery and eye in order to enable rural dwellers suffering from eye and other related sickness to come for treatment at the hospital.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Mr Shravan Kumar-Kasam, informed the chairman that the hospital has been rendering free eye treatment to thousands of Nigerians, but has the challenge of being asked to pay taxes.
“We believe in giving back to society, as our mission is to make sure that no one goes unnecessarily blind in Nigeria. Because people go blind for many reasons, including glaucoma, ” he said.
He informed the council chairman that the hospital have carried out other humanitarian services, which he said included sinking over 8,000 boreholes in different states.
“We believe in partnership and will like AMAC to partner with us and to support us. We have not had much challenges, apart from letters from the government to pay taxes. We will continue doing our best to render free eye care services to Nigerians in this hospital.”he added.
