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Touching lives with Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate’s triple project

By ISAAC TAIWO
15 February 2015   |   5:44 pm
• 50 persons benefit from  Gbagada’s micro- credit scheme THE Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate recently embarked on a triple project, which included distribution of free smart canes, giving out of artificial limbs to 40 beneficiaries as well as organizing health camp, where patients after several tests, went home with free drugs for diabetes,…

Smart-cane-2

• 50 persons benefit from  Gbagada’s micro- credit scheme

THE Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate recently embarked on a triple project, which included distribution of free smart canes, giving out of artificial limbs to 40 beneficiaries as well as organizing health camp, where patients after several tests, went home with free drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure, among others.  

   Speaking at the occasion, President, Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove Estate, Biswal Ramesh, described the day as exceptional with three projects going on simultaneously. “This is a triple project and rather unprecedented. We are giving out smart canes to blind people whose eyes could not be operated. 

   “The smart canes would help them sense objects very close to them. It is a pilot project whereby three beneficiaries would be given first, who after having mastery of the usage will in turn train others as our target is to reach out to 100 beneficiaries.

   “This is being done in honour of the past president and pillar of this club, Mr. Naranbhai Patel, who was given Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) award by President Goodluck Jonathan on November 29, 2014.  

   “Every member of this club has contributed to the procurement of the smart canes, which is valued at $1,000, an equivalent of about N200,000 Naira per smart cane.”

   The first set of beneficiaries from the Nigerian Blind Association to launch the project includes Miss Ejiro Okotie, Mr. Adeola Aina and Mr. Jide Efunkoya.

   “In addition, we are also reaching out to 40 beneficiaries of free artificial limbs, which of course, is an on-going project. Since inception, we have reached out to 50,000 beneficiaries and apart from this special day, beneficiaries are free to walk into our secretariat at Palmgrove Estate to obtain theirs free of charge, any day of the week.  

   “Today, we are also organizing a health camp with four doctors on ground made up of three Indian doctors and one Nigerian doctor, who conduct free diabetic and high blood pressure tests, as well as others and administer free drugs.  We have a target of 400 and we have attended to about 200 patients. We are expecting more people to come and benefit from the exercise,” he added.

   One of the doctors, Dr. (Mrs.) Bharathi Jayaram, advised Nigerians to engage in regular check-up of their health status to prevent complications.  

   “Glaucoma leads to blindness while cataract will definitely impair the sight of its victim. Diabetic victims are prone to so many dangers but with regular medical check-up, adherence to instructions on their diet, taking their drugs regularly while exercising quite often, inherent dangers will be downplayed,” she said.

   The Chairman, Project Committee, Tarun Sanghvi, said it was necessary for the first set of beneficiaries of the smart cane pilot project to get used to the new innovation with the aim of teaching others. 

   One of the recipients of free artificial limbs, a school proprietor, Mr. Odifiri Friday, aged 53, said he is diabetic, which later led to one of his legs being amputated.  

   “I was using clutches until a friend had compassion on me and told me I would walk if I should come here. Initially, I did not believe but when I came, I was marveled at what I saw.

   “I thank the Indian community for the privilege of walking again and I pray that God to bless them,” he said.   

  Meanwhile, songs  of praise rent the air inside the building of Star Micro Finance, Ososa in Ogun State as well as words of gratitude in divergent methods of communication by not less than 50 beneficiaries as Rotary Club of Gbagada in Lagos, renewed its micro-credit scheme, an empowerment programme that began in 2009.

  In his welcome address, the President, Rotary Club of Gbagada (2014-2015), Prof. Olukayode Taiwo described the ninth edition of the micro- credit scheme, categorized under “Economic and Community Development” as one of the ways the Club has chosen to address the challenges of increasing poverty in various communities including Ososa. 

“This project is funded by the Rotary Club of Gbagada, one of the over eighty clubs in Rotary International, District 9110, Nigeria, which include Lagos and Ogun states, in conjunction with Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North, District 6380, United States of America (USA),” he said.

He commended the Managing Director, Mr. Hector Fakayode as well as the management of Star Micro Finance, Ososa, for the professional way it has been handling the money since the inception of the programme.

  Giving the background to the project, the Past Assistant Governor, Ayo Onafuwa traced the history of the scheme back to when some members of the club visited him in USA and members of the Club of Ann Arbor North, District 6380 so much admired the love and respect given to Onafuwa, believed in the sincerity and integrity of the members of the club and therefore, decided to collaborate with the Rotary Club of Gbagada in Nigeria by initiating the micro-credit scheme with the sum of N1 million.   

  He urged beneficiaries to keep to the terms of the scheme by using the money judiciously for their trade and make prompt repayment.

 The District Governor, Rotary International, District 9110, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, Dr. Dele Balogun said he was happy that the Rotary Club of Gbagada had initiated such a programme for the people of Ososa and pleaded with the beneficiaries to ensure they reciprocate the gesture of the club by making use of the money for the purpose for which it was given and make repayment to justify the retention of the money in the town.

 The Managing Director, Star Micro Finance Bank, Hector Fakayode said the amount of N1 million with which the scheme started has increased to N1,518,000.00, which would all be disbursed.  He commended the Rotary Club of Gbagada for initiating the scheme, which according to him was in consonance with the directive of the Federal Government on poverty alleviation and ascertained that there had been no defaulters among the beneficiaries.

Alhaja Afolashade on behalf of the beneficiaries thanked the Rotary Club of Gbagada and demanded that the grant be increased from N50,000.00 to N100,000.00.

 In a related development, the Club  also commissioned  a renovated Ago-Iwoye Secondary School Science Laboratory.

  In his address, Olukayode Taiwo disclosed that the renovation was effected based on the need assessment carried out which indicated that the Science laboratory was last used for its primary purpose in 1955 and revealed that the exercise borne by the Rotary Cub of Gbagada was at a cost of N5,391,500.00.

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