Lions Clubs International Multiple District 404, Nigeria inuaugurated a comprehensive eye care development project in the State of Osun. The project was commissioned on Thursday, 16th December, 2021 by His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola,The Executive Governor of the State of Osun at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.
A joint project between the State government and the Lions Clubs will operate from the Lions Eye Centre, situated within the premises of Osun State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.
Financed by Lions Clubs International Foundation, the Charity arm of Lions Clubs International to the tune of US$542,142 over a period of four (4) years, the project is a composite one that include rebuilding a secondary-level ophthalmology building at State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, purchase of one unit of Toyota Hilux Van for outreach campaigns as part of infrastructure development, human resource training for 3 Project Management team members, 2 Optometrists, 1 Equipment Technician and 1 Outreach Officer.
The training will be completed with short term training for 5 Ophthalmic Nurses amd 2 Ophthalmologists during the course of the project.
In terms of service delievery, the project is expected to screen a total of 410,209 individuals for various eye conditions, provide a total of 145,000 spectacles, conduct 26,000 cataract sirgeries, treat 115,000 cases of glaucoma through medication, treat 100,000 other eye conditions such as foreign bodies, trachoma, accident cases, burns and scars as well as conduct 12 outreach campaigns yearly over the four year period of intervention.
Speaking during the commissioning the Chairperson Lions Club Comprehensive Eye care Development project in Osun State and a Past Council Chairperson, Lion Kola Oyekanmi said the project which was conceptualised in 2016 came as a result of the need to scale up Lions investment in Eye screening services to take care of all aspects of eye care.
While welcoming His Excellency the Governor of Osun State, Mr.Gboyega Oyetola and members of his Exco to the commissioning,The Project Chairperson said “Bi won ba gun Esin ninu mi ,kole lose ” “that is when you conceptualized a project and it is coming to fruition and reality in your presence you can not but feel on top of the world ”
Continuing, he said “Your Excellency’s forthrightness and commitment to improving the healthcare sector in the State are second to none.This project is a testimonial to that “.
He further stated that the outreach campaigns which will be rotated amongst the three Senatorial districts will kick off in Iragbiji in January, 2021.
Lion Oyekanmi also seized the opportunity to inform the Governor of the intention of Lions Clubs to begin implementation of Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence, a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum based youth development programme in the State of Osun.
While thanking the Lions Clubs International for the project, Governor Oyetola enjoined the good people of Osun State and those from other states to make good use of the facility because of its peculiar nature and the state-of-the-art equipment installed at the Lions Eye Centre.
Present at the commissioning are members of Osun State Exco, including the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public health sector, Pharmacist Olusiji Olamiju, Lions Clubs team led by Past International Director Eng. HOB Lawal who represented the Lions Clubs Interbational Foundation and Lions Clubs International President, Lion Douglas X. Alexander. Other Lions at the ceremony are Lion Dosu Gidigbi, District Governor Lion Kayode Oshinuga, Lion Ademola Adesoye, a Past District Governor, Lion Abiodun Abiona and a host of others.
