Rotary Club cataract surgery transforms 30,000 lives in Nigeria, restoring sight and hope through free life-changing eye operations

Rotary Club cataract surgery has transformed more than 30,000 lives across Nigeria, restoring sight and dignity to people who once lived in darkness.

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The Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove-Estate made the appeal for more public and corporate support to sustain the project, describing it as a humanitarian lifeline that continues to change lives nationwide.

In partnership with the Indo Eye Care Foundation and the Indian community, the club recently performed 2,500 free cataract surgeries in Lagos under its flagship Mission for Vision initiative.

The event was attended by the Consul General of India in Lagos, Shri Chandranmouli Kumar, and Rotary International District 9111 Governor, Prince Henry Akinyele.

Akinyele hailed the project as a “signature initiative” that perfectly reflects Rotary’s principle of service above self.

He said the Rotary Club cataract surgery effort has not only restored sight but also renewed livelihoods and confidence for thousands of Nigerians.

“When you give sight to people, you restore their dignity, their livelihood, and their place in society,” Akinyele noted.

“In just two and a half months in office, I have seen clubs provide clean water, empower artisans, and fund peace-building initiatives. This project is a true inspiration.”

Consul General Kumar described the collaboration as “a perfect effort with no profit motive but enormous societal gain,” urging more Nigerians to rally behind it.

“Funds and manpower are needed to sustain this noble initiative. The story of the Indo Eye Care Foundation must be amplified so more people can benefit,” he said.

Mr. Tarun Sanghvi, Head of Trustee of the Indo Eye Care Foundation, revealed that the programme enjoys support from the Lagos State Ministry of Health and aims to conduct 2,500 surgeries annually.

“Every operation is 100 per cent free,” he explained. “Patients pay nothing for consultation, surgery, post-operative drugs, or even refreshments.

We provide everything from water to snacks because people often arrive as early as 6 a.m. and stay till evening.”

Since its first camp in 2005, the initiative has completed more than 30,000 cataract surgeries, distributed thousands of free eyeglasses, and screened tens of thousands of schoolchildren for vision problems.

The hospital, once converted to a COVID-19 facility by the Indian community, now houses state-of-the-art equipment.

Club President, Mr. Pravin Kumar, described the project as “a collective commitment to humanity,” while Project Chair, Mr. Anuj Murarka, called it “a model of what public-private and community partnerships can achieve.”

Beneficiaries also expressed heartfelt gratitude. One patient, Atama Samuel, called the operation “a miracle,” adding, “I can now see colours, faces, and work again. I didn’t believe such a project could be completely free, but it truly is.”

The Rotary Club now plans to double its annual surgeries from 2,500 to 5,000 and expand its school screening initiative, which recently reached 94 schools, screened 50,000 pupils, and distributed 10,000 eyeglasses.