THEIR expression of joy was endless and infective. One could feel that their burden had been lifted. The beneficiaries of the just concluded free eye screening and surgery conducted by Indo Eye Care Foundation with Rotary Club of Palmgrove for patients with several eye defects in Lagos could not stop being happy.Held at the Marina General Hospital, the worthwhile exercise attended to 450 patients with three major eye defects ' glaucoma, cataracts and pterygium, while scores of others are waiting to be operated upon. The six-day programme, which started on Monday, ended yesterday.This is part of the 'Gift of Life' project initiated by Rotary Club of Palmgrove to serve their immediate community better with the sponsorship of other local and international organisations.Among organisations that sponsored the project are, The Guardian Newspapers Limited, as a partner; Rotary Club of Navsari, Gujarat, India; Rotary Club Foundation, USA; Chief H.B Chanrai, J.T. Chanrai and Co (PH) Ltd; OLAM, Vama Wave Foundation; Pluto Impex Ltd., The Gujarati Samaji; Metropolitan industries (Nig) Ltd; Oba of Lagos and governments of Lagos and Ogun States.According to the District Governor of Rotary International District 9110 Nigeria, Mr. Kennedy Ejakpomewhe, when sight is given to the blind, a new lease of life is released to him.Secretary General, Rotary Eye Institute Navsari, India, Dr. Viral Purolut, noted that 60 per cent of cornea blindness exists as a result of late diagnosis and treatment, noting that these are curable eye defects.He said, 'When glaucoma is not treated, its damage to the eyes becomes irredeemable. This occurs more in situation whereby the patients could not access good medical service as a result of poor facilities or lack of money.''We have done this in Lagos, but we are going to Ogun State to continue the project. 800 underprivileged have been marked for this programme. It is a system we started in Lagos in 2005 to help people with eye defects,' he stated.He continued, 'If one could not see, one has little or nothing to give to oneself and society. But when one sees, one could contribute to personal and national growth. There will be another project to save the lives of mothers and children in the country.'One of the beneficiaries of the programme, who regained her sight after 19 months of blindness, 80-year old Gladys Ogbise, said she had been going to the General Hospital, Ibadan in the past one year but nothing was done until she came for this programme.'Today, I can see well. I was with cataract all this while but with the help of the Rotary Club and Indo Eye Care Foundation, I'm healed. I'm happy to be here today. My daughter, who has been taking me around can now rest,' she said.However, Dr. Purolut noted there wouldn't be any need for follow-up. 'All they need to do is to avoid what should be avoided and do what we have instructed. Some of them will be required to use glasses, while others wouldn't need it, as they are completely healed.
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