Rotary Club builds charitable eye hospital

EFFORTS by Rotary Club to tackle eye related infections like cataract, pterygium and glaucoma in Nigeria received a boost recently as the Indo Eye Foundation, in collaboration with Indian Community in Nigeria, under the auspices of Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate, commenced work on the construction of a Charitable Eye Hospital in Lagos, put at a cost of about N550 million. When completed, the hospital will be involved in the surgery of eye related ailments including eyes transplant.

Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the project, the pillar behind the Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate and past President, Naranbhai Patel, (OFR), said that the programme to assist the less privileged Nigerians to regain their sight, tagged: “Mission for Vision,” actually commenced in 2005.

He disclosed that since then, doctors and para-medical personnel have been brought, every year, from India to Nigeria to carry out free surgeries with beneficiaries spread across the country.

Patel added that it has been realised, over time, that bringing medical personnel from India every year would not suffice, hence assistance was sought from Indian Community and prominent Nigerians, who responded positively, and together with Rotary International’s grants, decided to establish a Charitable hospital here in Nigeria to effectively address the problems of millions of Nigerians that have sight challenges. He gave kudos to the Lagos State Government and Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Aremu Akiolu, for their immense support to actualise the dream through the provision of land.
Patel, who expressed concern about the state of many Nigerian hospitals with no modern equipment, disclosed that arrangements have been concluded to equip the hospital, now being built, with sophisticated and latest equipment in nine months’ time within twelve months projected time that the hospital would be completed.

He said priority would be given to children, who are the hope of tomorrow and who have a long life to live.

Patel also expressed concern about the emptiness of eye bank in the country and implored Nigerians whether Christians, Muslims, Hindus, among others, to cultivate the habit of donating eyes to eye bank.

“Nigerians should follow the example of the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who had willed that his eyes be donated to the eye bank after his demise.

“After one’s passage, eyes are the only organ in the body that are preserved for the next six hours, which could be removed and deposited in the eye bank for the use of any eye victims. Instead of wasting them away, this habit could be cultivated by Nigerians to help the living, since they would not need the eyes any more.

“We have had cause to import ‘cornea’ from India for the benefit of about seven Nigerians in 2005, which was witnessed by the then Lagos Commissioner for Health. This humanitarian service would go a long way to contributing to humanity,” Patel said.