Lions Club To Commence Eye Care Services In Osun

By Solomon Odeniyi

The Lions Club International Foundation has said it will soon begin capacity building for comprehensive Eye care services at the state specialist hospitals, Asubiaro in the state of Osun.

The club’s country coordinator, Lion Kola Oyekanmi disclosed this on Tuesday during his visit to the state.

According to him, the goal is to enhance capacity building for cataract and eye care service delivery in the state specialist hospital.

He said, the pilot stage include the renovation of the eye department and operating theatre, as well as procurement of vehicle for opthalmic nurses to conduct rural screenings.

In addition, he said an ophthalmologist in stent/shunts and glaucoma surgery would be trained, while refresher training for another two in SICS and few opthalmic nurses would enjoy training in minor eye care service so as to expand surgical services in the state.

He said the programme would last for three years, stating that the screening of 105,000 individuals, provision of 48,000 spectacles, conduct of 2,700 cataract operations are the expected output of the projects.

Other expected output, he said, are treatment of 1,110 cases of glaucoma through medication, treatment of 5,500 other eye conditions such as foreign bodies, trachoma , accident cases burns and scars and a total 12 outreach campaigns during the duration of the project.

Lion Oyekanmi noted that the project requires the state government’s backing through allocation of a whole building presently housing the eye clinic at the Asubiaro hospital, as well as the execution of an MOU for the implementation of the project with Ministry of Health or the State Hospital Management Board.

He said the club, apart from the proposed project has a diabetes center in Ede rendering medical services to the less privileged in the state, adding that the club would continue to do its quota in a bid to help the delivery of quality health services to the people of the state.

Itinerary Of Lion Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) Team

Wednesday – The team will meet with officials of the Ministry of Health and Health Management board.

Thursday August 16 – Meeting with the Governor of Osun State.

Our findings reveal that LCIF Country directors, Mr Kola Oyekanmi is emphasising two important thrust areas of LCIF which the Club wants the State of Osun to benefit from viz:

(i)         Sight First

Project Title: Capacity Building for Cataract and Eye Care Services and Training of Medical Personnel at State Hospital, Asubiaro, State of Osun, Nigeria.

Project Goal: To enhance capacity building for Cataract and eye care service delivery in State Hospital Asubiaro, Osogbo in the State of Osun, Nigeria.

Duration: 3 years of project funding, 2 years of funding (5 years to achieve project outputs)

(ii)        Lions Guest