Elderly residents from different homes gifted with new glasses for the New Year |06 January 2022

A total of 12 residents from the Pointe Larue, English River and Plaisance homes for the elderly whose glasses were pending, on Sunday January 2 received a very precious gift each – a new pair of glasses after free eye screenings conducted in September last year, courtesy of the Lions Clubs of Seychelles, the MCB, Optic Seychelles and the National Council for the Elderly.

This forms part of their continuing nationwide screening campaign.

The handover of the glasses to the residents held at the Pointe Larue home for the elderly was attended by District 411A officer and Lion for Vision and Sight for Kids in the Region E, D.V. Sharma; Elaine Derjacques, marketing and communication manager of the MCB Seychelles; Liza Cadeau, director of the homes for the elderly from the Family department, elderly and disabled division; the district’s administrator and the residents.

According to Mr Sharma, with the screening, they have covered around half the target group in elderly homes across Seychelles both for screening as well as donation of glasses.

“This was the most satisfying occasion for me and all concerned as it was the most beautiful New Year gift as it will make the residents see this beautiful world better. The smile on the happy residents’ faces is very difficult to express in words,” Mr Sharma said.

“We have now covered around 50% of the people as there are some 130 residents and with this activity we would have screened 61 of them. That leaves us with elderly homes at Au Cap, Anse Royale, Anse Boileau, Praslin and La Digue. We will have to see to what extent we can achieve this,” Mr Sharma noted.

The nationwide project to bring eye screenings closer to the community and hand over glasses to those in need officially kicked off on October 18, 2020 at the Plaisance home for the elderly followed by La Retraite and English River.

Screenings are conducted by Optic Seychelles while glasses are donated by the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB). 

Hampers for the residents were sponsored by Lion Uma Ramani.

Ms Derjacques from MCB expressed her support for this noble cause, adding that it is one of the most important service projects which will bring happiness to all those residents who need better vision.

“There is no better feeling than to be with the residents and to share these memorable moments with them,” she said.

She assured her fullest support for glasses for all residents in the remaining homes and her gesture of providing biscuits and juices was warmly appreciated by all present.

Ms Cadeau for her part thanked Lions Club, MCB and Optic Seychelles noting that the cost of glasses these days is very high and we must take good care of them. She promised her continued support in the screening process that has to be conducted in the remaining homes.

One of the residents sincerely thanked all those involved in ensuring they take good care of their eye sight and he was very happy to wear new glasses.

The project is being realised by the Lion’s Clubs of Seychelles, namely, Lions Club Seychelles, the Seychelles Centennial Women’s Lions Club, the Melvyn Jones Foundation Club, the Rising Lions Club and Zodiac Club, with the support of the Health Care Agency (HCA) and department of ophthalmology at the Ministry of Health, MCB and the National Council for the Elderly.

“If you consider the costs associated to this project – the cost of glasses, the cost of screening, the cost of frames, logistics, and all of these hampers. Imagine if we did not have sponsors and people behind the scenes, it would have been impossible for us, so it is a nationwide project,” said Mr Sharma, conveying gratitude to all sponsors and partners who help to make the project a reality.

He added that so far nearly R100,000 have been spent on this project and still there remain four more homes to be assisted. He is appealing for more support from the community and businesses just like the MCB & Optic Seychelles to help them complete the project.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the handover ceremony at the Pointe Larue home for the elderly on Sunday.

Contributed