Inlaks, the leading systems integrator in Sub-Saharan Africa, on Monday December 9th announced its support to the Hope for Sight Initiative (HSI) to assist in conducting cataract surgeries for indigenes in Ogun State.
The announcement was made during a press conference in partnership with AOS Orwell and Eye Foundation Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Giving a background on the initiative, the visionary of the initiative, 16-year old Lakshmi Gopinathan, shared some valuable data regarding people living with Cataract in the selected area as well as her passion to fund corrective surgeries to those battling the disease seeing that she also contended with optical challenges as a child.
The data revealed that Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in Nigeria and is common in the older age group that is 50 years and above. It also disclosed that the disease is on the rise especially in rural areas within Nigeria where sensitization levels are low and there is a general misconception of the disease and its treatment options.
Speaking on behalf of Inlaks, Adetokunbo Ayo-Ogunsanya, Group Head, Human Resources and Administration, lauded the Hope for Sight Initiative and its goal to provide free surgeries to visually-impaired persons.
“One of our core values at Inlaks is excellence, and we are happy to partner with AOS Orwell working with the best in the industry; Eye Foundation on this initiative. It is important to one’s existence to have vision and having the heart to give back to the society,” she said.
She expressed her confidence in the Hope for Sight Initiative to change lives and reiterated Inlaks commitment to continuing this noteworthy cause in line with its CSR drive.
Also speaking Femi Omotayo, managing director, AOS Orwell, explained the direction of the organisation towards contributing to better quality of living not just for its employees, but for its external community members as well.
“We are a compassionate organization with a heart for people. This is why we jumped on this initiative when we were approached. It is a laudable cause and we are proud to throw the full force of our financial weight behind this,” he said.
He further explained that the company has been involved in several other causes that give back to the community on a consistent note.
Adeyemi Oyewumi, chief Business Development Officer, Eye Foundation expressed his confidence in the initiative especially because Eye Foundation has conducted thousands of free cataract surgeries and sensitisation programmes in the past.
He further explained that the selection process of candidates would be purely based on a few key factors such as severity of the condition and willingness of those affected to participate in sensitisation and surgery programme among other underlying considerations.
“Eye Foundation has some of the best and most experienced doctors for this magnitude of work. We have run series of sensitisation programmes and surgeries in the past and we are poised to deliver excellently and transparently on this as well. We are also very encouraged that organizations can recognize a need and go all out to meet that need,” said Oyewumi.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
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