Governor Okorocha commends MTNF’s blindness prevention programme in Imo: In InfoTech / 20 January 2015 / 0 comments MTN Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility vehicle of leading ICT company, MTN Nigeria, has received glowing accolades on its implementation of the second phase of its highly successful Eyesight Restoration Intervention Scheme, MTNF EyeRIS, in Imo State. At least 6,000 people are expected to be screened for cataract and other ocular diseases in Imo State and environs. The initiative, which enjoys the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Health, is being implemented in partnership with the Eye Foundation Centre for Prevention of Blindness (EFCPB) and in collaboration with the Imo State Ministry of Health. At a colourful commencement ceremony at the Imo State Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, Owerri,, Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Dr. Pascal Dozie stated that many cases of blindness and visual impairment in the country are preventable. He said the Foundation had in the last two years been actively engaged in the efforts to stop visual disabilities in country. “MTN Nigeria takes it corporate social responsibility very seriously which is why we are perhaps the most visible Foundation in the country going to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to implement key intervention programs in the areas of Education, Health and Economic Empowerment.” The Governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, commended the Foundation for availing the people of the state with free eye care and corrective surgeries. He added that visionless is the worst thing that could ever happen to any people or society and that through MTNF’s effort, this problem would become a thing of the past. “Early detection can prevent blindness or any other eye diseases; MTNF is joining the effort to curb blindness within the state, offering free eye care and cataracts surgeries to 6,000 patients which is a number that no other organisation has been able to impact. This intervention further demonstrates the strong partnership between the Imo State government and MTN Foundation in our shared value of assisting the poor and under-privileged in the society,” said Okorocha. Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Secretary of the MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma said that about 4million Nigeria are estimated to be either blind or afflicted by some visual impediment. “Under the first phase of the EyeRIS project launched in April 2013, a total of 33,364 patients in six states have been treated for cataracts and provided with drug packs to treat various ocular diseases. Some of these beneficiaries also received free surgery to remove cataract while others received glasses to treat presbyopia,” said Ugboma. Ugboma also added that through the intervention, the Foundation hopes to contribute to increasing the cataract surgical rate from 0.1% to 0.7% in the selected states, as this is in consonance with the World Health Organization’s Vision 2020 Right to Sight initiative. The beneficiaries, who turned out in thousands expressed gratitude for their restored eye sights and were full of praise for the MTN Foundation and the state government in making their dreams come true. MTN Foundation currently has 341 project sites across the six geopolitical zones of the country and has spent over 10 billion on social projects in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment. Aside from the three major portfolios, the Foundation also proactively responds to national emergencies, providing millions of naira worth of urgent relief materials to victims of such occurrences. In the first phase of the MTNF EyeRIS project, Osun, Niger, Delta, Abia, Sokoto and Jigawa States benefitted from the intervention. Imo, Oyo and Akwa Ibom states will enjoy these free eye screenings and surgeries as well as the provision of glasses and drug packs in the program’s second phase. Original link Read More goo.gl/mnximc (y) ✍comment ☏share
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 05:52:34 +0000