The
SightFirst ProgramIn the past 15 years,
Lions have done more to prevent blindness and restore sight than in their previous
65 years as "knights of the blind." In a decade-and-a-half, Lions have
prevented severe vision loss or restored sight to 24 million people - more than
the combined populations of New York and Tokyo.How
is this possible?
SightFirst
makes it possible.
SightFirst's strategy of
containing and eliminating the leading causes of blindness, creating sustainable
eye-health systems, and training eye-care workers who will serve their communities
for years to come, makes it extraordinarily effective and remarkably efficient.
On average, just £3 can save one person from a life of darkness.
SightFirst
has touched the lives of tens of millions around the globe. Through SightFirst,
Lions are changing
the world - and the world now looks to Lions as leaders in the international effort
to combat preventable blindness.
SightFirst
has
·
Prevented serious vision loss for 24 million · Provided 65 million
treatments for river blindness · Awarded £90 million for 739
projects in 88 countries · Restored sight to 4.6 million with cataract
· Improved eye care services for hundreds of millions ·
Built or expanded 207 eye hospitals and clinics · Upgraded 314 eye
centers with equipment · Trained 83,500 ophthalmologists, ophthalmic
nurses, other professional eye care workers · Launched world's first-ever
initiative to combat childhood blindness in partnership with the World Health
Organization. Thirty pediatric eye care centers will be established.
SightFirst
grants fight preventable and reversible blindness by building hospitals and clinics,
training doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, distributing medicine and
raising awareness of eye disease. Lions'districts work with their regional SightFirst
technical advisor in developing SightFirst grant applications and project proposals.
SightFirst fights the major causes of blindness:
cataract, river blindness, trachoma, and, especially in developed nations like
the United States, diabetic eye disease and glaucoma. Lions initially generously
funded SightFirst with £72 million.
SpektrekYou
are asked to deposit your unwanted spectacles at the following
locations throughout the year: Health
Centre Marnhull Health Centre Sturminster Newton Health Centre Stalbridge
Eyes Right Optician, Market Place,Sturminster Newton Batemans Optician,
Bridge Street, Sturminster Newton Stour View Health Centre, Bath Road, Sturminster
Newton Dispensary Marnhull Scout Hut, Henstridge.
These
will be collected and sent to Third World Countries through our Lion's organisation.We
are delighted to report that we collected 1600 pairs of spectacles in the year
ending April 2006 helping to keep Petersfield Lions Club Spektrek on track for
their target of 100,000 pairs this year.
|