The Warri Liberty Lions Club under (District 404A1 Nigeria) of the Lions Club International has donated a tonometer (eye equipment) to the Warri Central Hospital in Delta to boost healthcare delivery.
Mrs Olore Imokhe, President, Warri Liberty Lions Club, told newsmen shortly after the donation on Sunday in Warri that the equipment was worth over three million naira.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the donation preceded the official swearing-in of the 2019/2020 executive of Warri Liberty Lions Club headed by Imokhe.
A tonometer is a diagnostic tool used by eye specialists to measure the intraocular pressure inside the eyes of patients.
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It also helps opthalmologists to easily determine patients’ risk of developing glaucoma.
Imokhe said that Warri Central Hospital was chosen after the charity organisation had carefully carried out a proper needs assessment of hospitals in the area.
According to her, after the assessment, the hospital was identified to be in desperate need of high-tech eye screening equipment to address the challenges of screening and treatment of impaired vision .
“We have five focal areas in Lions Club International. They are: diabetes, paediatric cancer, sight, environment and feeding the hungry.
“We carry out core projects annually and this year we have focused on eye wellness and avoidable blindness, especially glaucoma, a disease that is prevalent in our sub-region.
“Our focus is on the less privileged, those who cannot actually afford medical treatment in larger and private hospitals.
“Even when the poor access government hospitals, the hospitals may not also have the right equipment to carry out the procedures, hence our choice of this hospital to reach out to many patients.
“With this machine, an average of 600 persons can be screened and treated on a monthly basis,” she said.
Imokhe urged indigent people who had sight challenges to take advantage of the equipment and get themselves screened and treated.
Also speaking, Mr Adekunle Adedipe, the Governor, District 404A1 Nigeria of the Lions Club, said the club had a membership strength of 7,500 in the country .
He solicited for more members of the charity organisation to effectively meet the needs of the less privileged.
Mrs Fortune Wagbatsoma, Deputy Governor, District 404A1 Nigeria, said the club had signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with some state governments to meet the growing needs of the poor in society.
Responding, on behalf of the hospital, Dr Faith Ejegi, Head of Department, Opthalmology, commended the club for the donation.
Ejegi urged other humanitarian organisations to emulate the club and help the less privileged in society.
“Glaucoma being the target of sight, the only way to detect it is by examining the eyes and this equipment called tonometer is effective and has accurate measurement.
“We are happy and grateful to them,” she said.
In her acceptance speech at the swearing-in, Imokhe pledged the executive’s determination to serve with zeal and integrity.
“We have considered to sponsor an average of six cataract surgeries for indigent people in the community every month, aside other monthly community service projects in this Lions’ year,” she said. (NAN)