RIYADH: A 90-year-old citizen has received a fresh lease of life following a gall bladder operation as well as cataract surgery, courtesy the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.

Abdullah Al-Zahrani was suffering from blurred vision and had also become weak because of gall bladder problems, an official of the ministry said on Monday.

Under its social welfare program, the ministry took special interest in rehabilitating Al-Zahrani, who was living alone in a warehouse.

“There was nobody to take care of this man. The ministry took him to the Riyadh Care House For Elders to attend to his health needs,” Walid bin Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, supervisor of the national medical services of the ministry, said.

Al-Zahrani underwent a gall bladder surgery at the King Saud Hospital in Riyadh. The cataract in his left eye was removed and arrangements are being made to remove the cataract from the right eye at the Al-Magrabi Eye Hospital, said Al-Babtain.

“He did not have the basic facilities and was sick and weak. However, he can walk now and confidently moves freely with other people,” he said

Several medical welfare programs of the ministry are being conducted in coordination with hospitals, added Al-Babtain.