Akeredolu commissions Millennium Eye Centre Building upgraded by Lions Clubs

 

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi  Akeredolu, has inaugurated the upgraded Millennium Eye Centre building at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure .

The building was renovated and upgraded by Lions Clubs International, Multiple District 404 Nigeria.

 Governor Akeredolu expressed the appreciation of the state government and good people of the State to the Lions Clubs  International Foundation for what he called kind and uncommon gesture.

Akeredolu who explained that vision plays a critical role in every facet and stage of human lives, said it is surprising that out of sheer ignorance people take vision for granted, forgetting that  without vision, we struggle to learn, walk, read and participate in schooling activities as well as education and to work for a living.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and some members of the State Executive Council. Lion leaders at the event include Past Council Chair, Air Vice Marshal Anthony Okpere; PDG Adekunle Adedipe; In-coming District Governor, District 404A-1, Lion Anogwi Anyanwu; In-coming District Governor, District 404A-2, Lion Jide Bello; In-coming District Governor, District 404B-2, Lion Lekan Owolabi, in-coming First-Vice District Governor, Lion Dr Kofoworola Jegede, Cabinet Officers and Lion members across the Multiple District, 404 Nigeria.

While emphasising that government alone cannot effectively address all the socio-economic challenges calling for attention no matter the amount of revenue accruing to government, Governor Akeredolu used the occasion to call on other public-spirited corporate bodies and individuals with capacity to emulate the Lions Clubs and further intervene in bridging the gap in the public health institution in the State.

“It will be recalled that this is not the first completed project donated to the state by Lions Clubs in the last five years.  I personally want to appreciate the leadership of the Lions Clubs, particularly those directly involved in the planning and execution of these projects for accomplishing them in record time.  I convey my sincere gratitude to Lion Adedipe and his team for the Dialysis Centre and Lion Jegede and his team for the Eye Centre.

“It is important to note that the resources required to bridge the existing gap in our socio-economic needs are enormous.  If government is to commit the entire available resources to only the Eye/Vision/Sight health needs alone, there will still be gaps to be filled.  This is because the whole healthcare needs of the State and other essential obligations and services required by the people outside the health sector are enormous”, he added.

Akeredolu who revealed that the risk of inappropriate attention to eye problem is so grievous that it could result in blindness or visual impairment, particularly advised  people above 40 years of age to do routine eye evaluation so that the avoidable causes of vision impairment can be picked up and corrected before it becomes a problem.

“We are lucky in Ondo State to have integrated eye health into our health care system and this opportunity of the Lions Club gesture has further brightened our hope for a result-oriented solution in this regard”, the Governor said.

He equally commended all the medical personnel including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and all other allied health workers for their resilience at this trying time and for their passion and contributions to healthcare services in all the government hospitals in the State, assuring them that government is committed to their welfare and the development of healthcare facilities in the State.

Earlier, the Grant Administrator of the Project who is a Past Council Chairman of Lions Clubs International, Multiple District 404 Nigeria, Lion Olumuyiwa Jegede, appreciated the all-round support provided by Governor Akeredolu and  other officials of his administration which cascaded into the successful completion of the project.

He specifically said all the inputs of the Governor into the architectural designs of the project kept all engineers and other workers on their toes throughout the project implementation.

Lion Jegede said it was not only that the  physical infrastructure of the Millennium Eye Centre has been completed but that the other three arms of the project, which include: Capacity Building of Staff; Injection of State of the Art Equipment;  and Organising Quarterly Outreaches in each of the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State to take four years were on- going.