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By Johnson Adebowale
Eko Centennial Lions Club, in collaboration with Asa Day Worldwide, has offered free eye screening, glasses and cataract surgery to the residents of the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, as part of activities to commemorate World Sight Day. The free medical outreach was part of the group’s resolve to fight preventable blindness in the country.
The club president, Olabiyi L. Adesola, said that cataract was the commonest cause of blindness in Nigeria and Africa, adding that they could be treated through surgery, if diagnosed early.
”The Lions Club International introduced vision as a focus area in 1925. Then in 1990, it came up with the sight first programme, which is what we are carrying out in October to create awareness of the importance of taking care of your eyes. This mandate also aligned with the theme of this year’s World Sight Day, ‘Love Your Eyes.’
“We take care of our communities; every year we do something on environment, diabetic awareness, free eye screening, paediatric cancer awareness and feed the hungry.
“Those are the core activities we always pick from. In the month of October, we direct our action towards cataract surgery, free eye screening and treatment for people within this community,” he said.
The president of Asa Day Worldwide, Prince Olaniyi Oyatoye, said his organisation decided to collaborate with Lions Club because of its reputation and the organisation’s resolution to join hands with stakeholders to fight preventable blindness in the country.
“This project is part of our own way of giving back to society. I am happy that Asa Day Worldwide joins hands with Lions Club to put smiles on the faces of the needy. I am using this opportunity to call on wealthy Nigerians and corporate organisations in the country to give Lions Club necessary support in realising its global goals and objectives, ” Oyatoye said.
An ophthalmologist and member of the Lions Club in Ikorodu, Dr Olayinka Ajayi, who delivered a lecture at the presentation of eye glasses to the beneficiaries, said that based on a survey, over two billion people in the world have vision impairment.
Dr Ajayi said some of these could be prevented and treated through surgery, if diagnosed early, adding that in Nigeria 60 per cent of preventable blindness is caused by cataracts.
According to her, eye health is important because vision impairment and blindness impact education, employment, quality of life and more.
She, therefore, called on world organizations, governments and people to join hands to actively support universal access to eye health and ensure that everyone counts.
Ajayi listed uncorrected reflective errors, cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macula degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and hypertensive retinopathy as leading causes of visual impairment.
An elderly man, Mr Ajiteru, who benefited from the free cataract surgery appreciated the organisations and said it came as surprise to him when the organisations declared their intention to pay for his medical expenses.
He prayed for the club and its members and urged wealthy Nigerians to join hands with the club in giving succour to the needy.
Other beneficiaries of the project include Mrs Taiwo Olupona and Mrs Kumuyi Morayo who got free eyeglasses after the screening. They also showered encomium on the club.
