Rotary Club bankrolls 100 eye surgeries, inaugurates hospital
The Rotary International District 9110, Nigeria, covering all Rotary Clubs in Lagos and Ogun States, on Friday bankrolled eye surgeries of some 100 patients in Ota, Ogun.
The District Governor, Rotarian Omotunde Lawson, disclosed this while officially inaugurating Global Grant -Aided Rotary D9110 Eye Hospital, at Ota.
The eye hospital is situated on the first floor of the Ace Medicare Clinics, in Ota.
Commending the management of the Ace Medicare Clinics for providing facilities, Lawson said that rotary had been partnering with government and private sectors to help the vulnerable and the poor.
Lawson said: “It is a project we can tag eye solution for those who, up to the time, had no vision.
“Glaucoma and Cataracts are basically the two most common eye problems that we have and over a hundred patients benefited from these surgeries.
“It was done overnight. The doctors worked so tirelessly last night to ensure that that large number were attended to.
“They (beneficiaries) heard about this project which is to restore sight for those who lost their sight and provide solutions to those who have visual impairment.”
The governor said that the project was funded by both clubs locally in Lagos and Ogun, and also some clubs that are international.
“The clubs together provide the money. The project is actually worth thousands of dollars.
“So, Rotary Clubs individually cannot do it but through power of collaboration, both locally and international, and with the support of partners all over the world and rotary foundation, we are able to do these surgeries for this large number of men and women.
“This is one of the things that rotary does. This is one area of focus of rotary. This is just the beginning,” she added.
Lawson said that the surgeries were carried out by indigenous eye doctors.
“This a source of pride to us in this global eye solution”, she said.
Lawson said that anyone with eye problems could come to the hospital for treatment from any part of the country.
She said that though District 9110 covers Ogun and Lagos, that did not mean that patients should not come from any other part of the country.
“As long as they need help, we provide the help,” the governor said.
The Special Guest and Commissioner for Health Ogun State, Dr Tomi Coker, said that the bedrock of any health system was Primary Health Care, hence the state government’s commitment to strengthening health care at the grassroots.
Coker, represented by Dr Tayo Lawal, a member of Rotary Club of Gbagada and Special Adviser on Health to Gov Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, said that the government was glad to partner with the District and other sponsors locally and internationally.
“This is a grant of almost N40 million running for five years with indicators and targets to achieve. It is a welcome initiative because the governor is always advocating public private partnership in order to take the sector forward.
“The location is very strategic. Ota is a fast developing community. We have no doubt that the rotary club will deliver what is expected. We will create awareness and employ our people to take advantage of this,” Coker said
According to him, the state government has been developing the primary health care in terms of infrastructure and capacity building to improve the health of the people.
“So many of these health issues can be addressed with effective primary health system,” he said.
He said that the Eye Hospital would be a referral centre and the government was grateful for this.
In his remarks, Rotarian Aruna Ogunsola, the Project Contact/Chairman, implementation Committee, said that he was elated to have led the committee that birthed the humanitarian projects.
He appreciated everyone who had made the dream of Rotary D9110 Eye Hospital, Ota, a reality.
Ogunsola said: “It will interest you to know that about 21 Rotary Clubs and 6 Rotary Districts came together to contribute the cost of this project which was $95,460.
“The least contribution by a club was $136 while the highest of about $15,000 was contributed by Rotary Club of Gbagada.
“The total contribution by all Clubs came to $48,715 while District Designated Funds from the six collaborating Districts and The Rotary Foundation was $46,745. This is the power of positive cooperation.”
Also, Dr Dele Balogun, the Chairman, D9110, Eye Hospital Charitable Trust, said: “this is the first time we are responsible to run a hospital; before, we donate and go. We are here to run the rotary eye hospital.”
Stressing that the district had carried out about 680 surgeries in the past, Balogun said that the district was looking forward to assistance in giving publicity, funding and support.
He said that several clubs had been supporting the district, including Eko Atlantic, Gbagada, Ota, Agege, Omole and Victoria Gardens and had invested in the project.
He said that the Charitable Trust would give adequate publicity to members of the public on how to take care of their eyes, and meet with well meaning Nigerians.
One of the International partners, Dr Yinka Osoba, a Nigerian-trained medical Doctor based in UK, who commended Rotarians for the gestures, said the step was life-changing.
One of the beneficiaries of the surgeries, Mr Haruna Jimoh, a former production editor of the defunct Sunday Concord, who said that his eyes had been operated upon in 2021, commended the organisers
Jimoh said: “Nowhere else to go, this is the best. The doctors here are fantastic, the workers are fantastic.”
Another beneficiary, Mr Ayoola Adekanmbi, a musician, commended the organisers for the free eye surgeries and the hospitality.
“It was all free of charge, we didn’t pay a dime. I will advise the Rotary Club to continue this good work because more than 100 benefitted,” he said.
The inauguration was attended by many Rotarians physically and virtually.
