13 Jun 2022

Greater Gaborone Lions Club in collaboration with Greater Maun Lions Club and Eyelight Optometrists Company conducted a free eye health check and donated reading spectacles and sun glasses to 75 elderly persons in Maun.

Speaking during at the donation, Kgosi Leretetse Mogalakwe thanked the club for its social responsibility, saying the donation would give hope to beneficiaries, some of whom were financially challenged and could not afford private opticians.

“You have demonstrated love towards our senior citizens and I urge other clubs and companies to emulate your efforts,” stated Kgosi Mogalakwe.

Giving an overview of the event, Kgosi Babinang Majatsie explained that the donation was an appreciation from the club’s chairperson for Botswana and Zimbabwe, Ms Thanuja Panicker who was in Maun recently.

Kgosi Majatsie said Ms Panicker assured him that they would extend the gesture across the district.

For her part, Ms Panicker said having a good sight enabled one to take care of themselves.

As opticians, she said they were duty bound to protect people’s sight hence the decision  to aid the elderly.

She said she believed that 80 per cent of blindness could be prevented if attended to on time.

Ms Panicker said vision impairment affected people of all ages, the majority being those above 50 years hence she encouraged people with eye problems to seek help.

She said Lions Club was an organisation that empowered volunteers to serve their communities and meet humanitarian needs. “We provide voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation,”Ms Panicker said.

She said the club had already assisted communities in Chanoga, Moshupa, Serowe, Tsabong and Bobonong among others and encouraged other organisation to come on board and give back to the community. BOPA