750 Osun residents benefit Lions International’s free eye care services 

No fewer than 750 residents of Abere Community in Osun State, on Thursday, benefited from the free eye screening and treatment organised by Lions Club International.

The group outreach programme officer, Lion Olufunmike Odesanmi, who made this known while speaking with newsmen after the programme held at Abere town hall, urged Osun residents to modify their lifestyle and avoid things that can be injurious to their health.

She said, “This is not the first one. We have touched all three senatorial districts in Osun. After this, we are still going to other communities. We are expected to screen and treat about 500 people minimally. 

“This is not the first time we are out for outreach and the minimum we attend to for every outreach is 350 people. For today, we are targeting 750 people. 

“We’ve seen cases of reversible error, which is the most common one. We’ve seen cataract, glaucoma, and other ocular problems. 

“My message to the beneficiaries is to continue to pray for Lions Club International, who are donating their time, talent, and treasures.

“Also, the beneficiaries should always find a way to help others in their communities.

“I want to appeal to our people to modify our lifestyle. The food we eat, what we drink should be healthy. Smoking and drinking alcohol are not helpful to our health. We should also sleep at the right time and protect our eyes, most especially the artisans.”

Also speaking at the event, the head of the Department of Ophthalmology, Lions Eye Centre, State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, Dr Bolanle Olomola, said the motive behind the outreach was to take eye health to communities.

According to her, cases of reversible error, cataract, glaucoma, and other ocular problems were attended to by specialists during the outreach and free corrective glasses were given out to some of the beneficiaries at the outreach.

Dr. Olomola said, “This is how we do our outreach. Every two weeks, we go out to the communities to attend to those who don’t have access to come to the centre. We are trying as much as possible to take eye health to the community. 

“The number of children increased for today’s outreach because they are on holiday. We’ve attended to almost 100 children today.”

Dr. Olomola, while appreciating Lions Club International, appealed to the beneficiaries to stick to the medical advice given to them, urging those whose case demanded further re-examination to do so. 

“The turnout is very impressive and I want to urge those whose treatment is not ending here to come to the Lion Eye Centre as agreed for further examination,” she added.

The Alabere of Abere, Oba Adefemi Adelakin, while appreciating the organiser of the outreach, urged others to emulate the laudable gesture.

The monarch said, “I am very happy for this outreach brought to my community by the Lions Club. My advice to my subjects who are beneficiaries of this laudable program is that they should follow the advice the doctors gave them. 

“I want to encourage other well-to-do people to also give back to communities through programmes like that.”

The chairman, Abere Community Landlord Association, Mr. Alabi Adesoji, who was one of the beneficiaries, said, “I want to appreciate the organiser of this programme – Lions Club International. This is a very big opportunity for our community and as you can see, our people turned out massively to enjoy this benefit.

“We hope that this kind of outreach will continue particularly in other health areas too. Both the old and young people have eyes and our children are given glasses which I know will help them in their studies,” he concluded.

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