By AMBROSE GAHENE
Lions Clubs of Uganda under District 411B in partnership with Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and St Francis Hospital, Nsambya on Tuesday launched a ground-breaking ceremony to construct a specialized eye clinic.
The comprehensive Eye Care Project involves construction of a two-storied specialized eye care hospital, which will be equipped with the latest equipment, according to the project chairperson Lion, Dr Geofrey Erem.
“The project also involves training of eyecare health workers including opticians, ophthalmologists and technicians. Outreach activities will also be conducted under the auspices of St Francis Hospital, Nsambya to take services nearer to communities,” Dr Erem said.
Dr Dans Nshekanabo, the LCIF coordinator, said the project will cost $420,431 (about Shs1.5 billion), in which support will also come from the Latter Day Saints Charities, contributing $129,855 towards high tech eye care equipment and human resource training.
St Francis Nsambya Hospital Board of Governors Chairman, Freddie Ssengooba, said the hospital will contribute Shs400 million which is at least 30 percent of cost of construction.
“Today marks the start of construction of Shs1.4 billion specialized eye care clinic, which should be completed within nine months. Other project activities will run for a period of four years,” Mr Ssengooba said.
Lions Clubs in Uganda have supported the government in major immunization programs for measles and rubella, investing up to $2 million over the last five years, according to Lions Clubs of Uganda Governor John Bosco Ntangare.
He said the current projects include Diabettes Retinopathy Project in Western Uganda of $800, 000, the Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Project in Central and Eastern Uganda of USD 300,000, Comprehensive Eye care Project in Northern Uganda of $1.8 million, Comprehensive Eye Care Project in Southwestern Uganda of $500,000 and the Lions Quest Life Skills Project for the youth in various secondary school funded to the tune of $80,000.
“Individual Lions Clubs have also been engaged in various initiatives to support their local communities,” he said.
