Lions Club launches war against blindness

By Oluseye Ojo

At least, 2,000 visually impaired persons in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, are expected to benefit from a medical outreach organised by the Ibadan Hilltop Lions Club, District 404B4 Nigeria.

The club’s president, Bisi Sofunde, made the disclosure in a chat with Saturday Sun during the first of the nine medical outreaches, organised by the club in partnership with a private ophthalmological clinic and a pharmaceutical company.

The first outreach was held at Honey Treat Academy Event Centre, Monatan, Ibadan, where more than 200 visually impaired persons benefitted. It is expected to reach at least 200 persons every month. But Sofunde said 500 persons could be accommodated, as the club would not close its doors to anyone in need of care during the project. The exercise, which would be conducted once every four weeks for nine months, marked the inauguration of the Helen Keller Challenge 2.0, which is a signature project of the club for 2025/2026.

Free basic general body and eye tests were conducted for the beneficiaries, which were complemented with free drugs, eye lotions, white sticks for the blind, free eyeglasses, and scheduled free surgical operations for at least 10 persons that have cataract. The club’s president, Sofunde, described the outreach as part of Lions Club’s global mission to prevent blindness and provide vision care to underserved communities.

“The project is a vision service initiative to honour the legacy of Helen Keller, who, 100 years ago, challenged the Lions to become ‘Knights of the blind’.

“Our project, which will run monthly from October 2025 to June 2026, aims at promoting vision care. We also hope to provide essential eye care services to those in need. It will be held in different places for maximum impacts,” she said.

Sofunde added that provision was made for free cataract operations for 10 persons. But 20 persons that need cataract operation were discovered. She called on well-meaning Nigerians and philanthropists to partner with the club to raise money so that the outreach could reach out to more people.

The lead ophthalmologist at the outreach, Dr Olatunji Ologundudu, stated that the people with minor ailments were treated, given drugs and eyeglasses, and were also counselled appropriately on early detection and management of impairment.