Lions Club Provides Free Eye Screening And Surgery For Residents Of Osun Community

No fewer than 500 visually impaired people have benefited from the Lions Club International Foundation Outreach Campaign on Eye Disease Conditions, organized by the Osogbo, District 404B2-Nigeria, held in Ode-Omu in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State.

The exercise featured free eye tests/screening, donation of free eyeglasses, medication, and treatment for people with various eye challenges. Free surgeries were also performed on those with chronic eye problems such as cataracts.

At the event, which took place at the Palace of the Alayegun of Ode-Omu, visually impaired residents of the town and neighboring communities expressed their appreciation to the international organisation for providing essential eye care services.

Speaking at the event, Lion Isaac Olusegun Babatunde, a native of Ode-Omu and chief host of the outreach, said the exercise was in line with the Lions Club’s dedication to ending blindness and visual impairment as part of its humanitarian services.

Babatunde emphasized the scope of the initiative, saying: “We’re here to help as many people as possible, whether 500 or more. It’s all free—registration, tests, and glasses. For those in need of surgery, they will also be attended to. This is our way of giving back to the community.”

He added that the event catered to a wide range of needs, including eye tests, the provision of prescription glasses, and referrals for surgeries. The outreach was entirely funded through contributions from Lions Club members, with no financial support from the government.

Babatunde explained that similar Lions Club initiatives exist across Osun State, including a facility at the General Hospital Asubiaro in Osogbo and a diabetes center in Ede.

In his remarks, the 2nd Vice District Governor 404B2-Nigeria, Lion Oluomo Sunday Akere, highlighted the broader purpose of the outreach, noting that it was organized as part of the club’s contribution to society.

“We aim to reduce the number of people with sight challenges by going into towns like Ode-Omu. Not everyone can come to Osogbo for care, so we bring the services to them.

“This is part of our ongoing efforts to address healthcare needs in rural areas. We’ve done this in places like Okuku and Iwo, and we plan to continue before the end of the year.”

He added: “I want to inform you that Lions Club International has five major global focuses: serving people with diabetes, which is the core centennial project, vision preservation, feeding the hungry, protecting the environment, and addressing pediatric cancer.

“Lions have offered eye and health care services to millions of people around the world since its inception in 1925. Eighty percent of visual impairment cases are preventable and curable. This indicates that Lions Club’s services are more important to society now than ever before.”

The e President of Osun New Era Lions Club, Lion Busola Ogundiya, emphasized the need to educate community members on the importance of good eyesight.

Explaining the passion behind their efforts, Ogundiya reiterated: “We raise money among ourselves; members contribute to support monthly activities because they have a passion for service before joining the association.

“Our passion is to get people to seek out eye care services. People in the community may be unaware of these services, think they don’t need them, or believe they can’t afford the treatments.

“People may also fear eye surgery or believe that some eye disorders cannot be prevented or cured. In Lionism, we serve the world with our time, talent, and treasure.”

Speaking, the Alayegun of Ode-Omu, Oba James Alani Oladipupo, commended the Osun Lions Club for turning people’s darkness into light.

Oba Oladipupo, who spoke through one of his chiefs, the Balogun of Ode-Omu, Chief Adebayo Adeyefa, urged other well-meaning Nigerians and organizations to emulate the good gesture of the Lions Club.

The monarch also charged the sons and daughters of the town on patriotism, encouraging them to follow the good example of Isaac Olusegun Babatunde from Ileorona (Orona Compound) in Ode-Omu, who facilitated the outreach.

He said: “I appeal to all the Ode-Omu sons and daughters, both at home and abroad, to come and contribute to the development of the town. You should emulate the patriotic spirit of our son, Isaac Olusegun Babatunde, who has been committed to the development of our community over the years.

“We requested light, and he provided it, along with a transformer and many other developmental projects, including this free medical outreach that he brought to us in Ode-Omu and neighboring communities.

“He is turning people’s darkness into light. We pray that God continue to be with him and grant him all his heart’s desires,” he said.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our correspondent expressed their gratitude to the Lions Club for considering them worthy of benefiting from the free medical outreach.