The Lions Clubs International District 404 Nigeria has launched an appeal fund for a N3.5 billion eye care hospital, diabetes and cancer research Centre in Abuja.
A release issued by the project director, Dr Lanre Adebayo in Abuja yesterday said the project is aimed at addressing severe gaps in Nigeria’s health care system, and complement existing public health infrastructure in the country.
According to the project director, an estimated 1.13 million Nigerians are currently blind while 4.25 million adults are partially blind, noting that the prevalence rate is higher in the Northern states.
He said two major causes of blindness include cataract and glaucoma, which are preventable. He noted that eye care service in relation to Nigeria’s population was grossly inadequate, adding that this was the reason for the intervention of the Lion’s Club International to support this aspect of the health sector.
Adebayo also stressed that the centres were conceived to be world class which would cater for the poor and rich, adding that it would feature a health extension service especially to accommodate the rural poor.
“The hospital will feature the first Eye Bank in Nigeria, while reducing incidences of avoidable childhood and old age related blindness. It will also establish a global standard research centre on diabetes and childhood cancer in Nigeria.
“In pursuance of its goal of raising a sum N3.5 million for the project, the Lion’s Club is appointing project champions whose responsibilities include personal and corporate donations to the project which arguably is one of the most outstanding and unprecedented humanitarian interventions in the country,” he said.
The group also disclosed that there are several benefits for donors including naming of specific components of the after such donors.
