Lafarge Africa offers free eye surgery to 229 people in Cross River

AS part of its corporate social responsibility to host communities, Lafarge Africa Plc has offered free cataract surgeries to 229 persons in Cross River from January 2016 till date.

Manager of Mfamosing plant, Mr Thierry Tierrere, disclosed this to newsmen at the weekend during a media tour of facilities of the `Line 2’ production plant at Mfamosing in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.

Tierrere said that the beneficiaries were drawn from 10 communities in the three local government areas of Akamkpa, Akpabuyo and Calabar Municipality which play host to the cement company.

He further stated that the company screened a total of 1,765 persons with eye problems, out of which 728 were given eye glasses, 808 were given medication, while 229 underwent cataract surgeries.

“Between January 2016 and now, Lafarge Africa has rendered free medical care to no fewer than 1,765 people in our host communities.

“728 were given eye glasses to correct their sights, 808 were given medication, while 229 underwent cataract surgeries in our facility in Calabar.

“Aside from healthcare, we have launched one project or the other in all the communities surrounding us. We also have 3,000 direct staff in our employ’’, he said.

Tierrere, who said that the CSR was still ongoing, added that the company would continue to identify with its host communities in the area of healthcare, education, potable water, building of modern markets, among others.

Explaining the economic value of the line 2 plant, the manager said that when completed, it would add more volume of cement production, thereby improving the revenue profile of the company.

Mr Eden Wagne, the site manager of line 2, said that the line, when completed, would produce 2.5million metric tons of cement annually.

According to him, the 2.5million metric tons will be added to the original 2.5million metric tons currently being produced by the line 1 plant.

“When line 2 is finally completed, Lafarge Africa will be producing 5 million metric tons of cement yearly from two lines.

“This will improve the revenue profile of the company and it will also be beneficial to the state.

“We are estimating October 1 as the day we would produce the first cement from the line 2 plant’’, he said.