Launching Our 4th Home In Nigeria and 5th On Wheels 🚐

When I first started working in Nigeria almost a year ago, one thing struck me almost immediately: many people knew they had vision issues but waited too long to seek help and many others didn't even know a problem was silently growing. That's why preventive screening became so important in my mind.

I had conversations with families who only sought help when their eyesight had already deteriorated. Glaucoma, the "silent thief of sight," is rampant here and often hereditary, which means if one family member has it, others are at risk too. It made me realise that if we wait for patients to come to us, we've already lost precious time.

That's when the idea of a mobile eye clinic took root. We wanted to build something that could take the same world-class care we've been delivering in India for the past 18 years and in Nigeria for the past 9 years, and put it on wheels. A hospital that goes to where people live and work, rather than asking them to travel to us.

This past weekend, that dream became real. Alongside the launch of our 4th center in Nigeria in Gwarinpa, which was extremely exciting, we also inaugurated Nigeria's first fully equipped mobile eye clinic. In just one month of piloting, we have done 3000 free screenings. Our goal is to screen 100,000 this year, because every early detection means a child can see the blackboard, a parent can keep working, a grandparent can hold on to their independence.

Nothing can ever be done alone. I'm deeply grateful for the incredible team we have in India and in Nigeria who made this possible, especially the guidance from my mentor Ajay. And personally, I feel extremely lucky and humbled to be able to build on the journey that my father and Ajay Uncle began 18 years ago in India.

If you'd like to read more about the launch, here's one of the reports: Vanguard Nigeria

The van is just a beginning. Our dream is to provide access to world-class eyecare to as many cities in Nigeria and in other countries in Africa in the next five years. Because eyesight shouldn't depend on where you live.