About 2500 persons enjoyed free cataract surgeries recently through a collaboration between Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate and Indo Eye Care Foundation.
Inspecting the on-going “Mission for Vision,” project, District Governor of Rotary International District 9111, Rotn Prince Henry Akinyele, who led a delegation to the event, noted with gratitude that it was a signature initiative that had given sight to more than 30,000 people in nearly two decades.
Appraising the foundation’s good works, Akinyele said: “When you give sight to people, you restore their dignity, their livelihood and their place in society.”
Describing the project as symbolic of what Rotary stands for, Service above self, he said Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove-Estate has stood out among other clubs in organising free cataract surgeries. He added that the club had also partnered with other Rotary Clubs to replicate the project.
The Consul General of Indian, Shri Chandranmouli Kumar; who commended the collaboration, urged Nigerians and corporate bodies to support the initiative. He said the positive story of Indo Eye Care Foundation must be amplified to enable more people benefit.
The Head of Trustee of the Indo Eye Care Foundation, Rotarian Tarun Sanghvi, while appreciating the support of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, explained that in year 2025, Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove-Estate in partnership with Indo Eye Foundation targeted 2,500 surgeries within the Rotary year.
Tarun also commended sponsors such as Ishk Tolaram Foundation; Pardee Foods; HB Chanrai Foundation; Dinesh Rathi/Naveen, Bara Power, Kewalram Group, Sacvin Group, Panaar Limited, and Kunal Sanghvi Foundation, among others.
The Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove-Estate’s President, Rotn Pravin Kumar, while commending the project, described it as a selfless service that is beyond writing a cheque. He said: “It is a collective commitment to humanity.”
The Mission for Vision Project Chair, Rotn Anuj Murarka, described the project as a model of what public-private and community partnerships could achieve in tackling health inequities and restoring hope to the most vulnerable.
Atama Samuel, speaking on behalf other beneficiaries, thanked the foundation for helping them regain their sights. He described the experience as “a miracle”.
The club said it plans to scale up cataract surgeries from 2,500 to 5,000 yearly as well as sustain its school screening programme.