La Retraite’s elderly get free eye tests |23 November 2020

The eye screening in full swing (Photo: Jude Morel)

The Lions Club of Seychelles yesterday was at the La Retraite Home for the Elderly as part of a nationwide campaign led by non-profit organisation to help improve the eyesight of the elderly people residing in the eight elderly homes across the country.

The event was attended by Minister for Health, Peggy Vidot; Minister for Local Government & Community Affairs Rose-Marie Hoareau; principal secretary Marie-Josée Bonne - council for Elderly Homes; Bernard Jackson, managing director of Mauritius Commercial Bank and his team, as well as member of Lions Club of Seychelles.

D.V. Sharma, the Lions Club’s district officer for vision and sight for kids in Region E (Seychelles and Mombasa), noted that the campaign forms part of the club’s ‘Sight First’ initiative, which expands to include young children and other demographics in the society.

“130 residents from nine homes for the elderly will be getting free eye tests and glasses under our project which is being sponsored by many partners – Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) who will be sponsoring all the glasses, Optic Seychelles who is conducting the screening and so on,” said Mr Sharma.

The Ramani group and MCB also took the opportunity to make a few donations such as essential hygienic items to the home residents as well as food items.

Marco Jerry, director of programme for elderly homes who was also present at the event noted that the activity also served as a way to inform the two new ministers on some of the other problems affecting the elderly in the homes and community such as dementia, immobility or those who do not get in contact with their families.

He added that the health department will assist residents who will require further treatments.

Speaking on behalf of MCB, Mr Jackson said that when the Lions Club approached them about this initiative they felt like it was a good way to show gratitude to the elderly in the community.

“Going forward the partnership between NGOs, the public sector and private sector is a good thing as further donations are coming in,” he added.  

All 21 residents of the home were screened and 10 needed glasses while six will be referred to the health department for further assistance. For every home the cost of free glasses will come to around R25,000.

Christophe Zialor