Lions continue to be ‘Knights of the blind’

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COMMUNITY PROJECT: The Lions in a group photo with some of the patients and staff of Ophthalmology Department of SGH at Bau Hospital during the post-operation check-up yesterday.

BAU: Ever since the challenge thrown by Helen Keller to Lions in 1925 to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness”, Lions all over the world have worked on projects designed to prevent blindness, restore eyesight and improve eye health for hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

Lions Club of Kuching North, Lions Club of Kuching City and Lions Club of Kuching Stampin-Pending participated in the Cataract Campaign organised by Sarawak Medical Department in Bau Hospital from Thursday to Saturday.

The campaign helped restore the eye sight of 26 needy patients whose age ranged from 40 to 82 years. This event and cataract replacement Intra Ocular Lenses (IOL) surgeries were made possible with a RM5,000 fund raised by the three Lions Clubs and RM5,000 from Lions Clubs International District 308-A2 Foundation Fund for the purchase of the lenses.

Eye screening began from Nov 11 to identify suitable patients for the operation. Patients were screened for financial status and the needy were sponsored by the Lions Clubs.

The cataract operations were carried out by Ophthalmologist Dr Intan Gudom, Dr Mohamad Aziz and a team of eye specialist personnel (nurses and medical assistant) from Ophthalmology Department of Sarawak General Hospital and Bau Hospital.

While the operation is free for those who qualified, a few patients needed to pay a small amount for the IOL.

“The benefits of restoring sight to the patients in rural areas go on and on. They can go on working and this increases their prospects of improving their standard of living” said organising chairman Lion president Michael Lim.

The next Cataract campaign organised by Sarawak Medical Department will be at Serian District Hospital in December, followed by Sri Aman.

Lions Clubs will continue with the Sight Restoring Campaign by assisting the Medical Department in the future campaigns.