DIMAPUR: Lions Club of Dimapur (LCD) Elite, District 322-D, organised a series of community service activities during Vision Week, observed from October 8 to 18, with the aim of promoting eye health, preventing avoidable blindness and creating awareness about the importance of healthy vision.
Under the leadership of president Ritika Jain and secretary Sakshi Jain Binaykia, the club carried out a range of initiatives focusing on awareness, medical assistance, environmental sustainability and support for persons with visual impairment.
Marking World Sight Day and the beginning of Vision Week, the club launched a vision awareness campaign across five locations in Dimapur, including Jain Temple Road and Jain College, Railway Police Point, PWD Colony and Midland Area, City Tower, and New Market. During the campaign, 700 awareness pamphlets in English and Hindi were distributed among students, commuters, vendors, workers, shopkeepers, police personnel, pharmacy staff and members of the public.
The campaign emphasised preventive eye care, early detection of vision problems and the importance of regular eye examinations. The initiative was conducted under the guidance of GLT coordinator Neeta Agarwal.
As part of its efforts to prevent avoidable blindness, the club sponsored cataract surgeries for 13 patients from Dimapur at the Jorhat Lions Eye Centre, Assam. The initiative enabled beneficiaries to access essential treatment and improve their quality of life.
The club also organised a free eye screening camp for around 320 students of Classes III to V at Jain School, Dimapur. Using the Lions Eye Screening Paper Board, members screened students individually and identified 58 children with possible vision difficulties. Referral notes were provided for further examination by eye specialists.
In another initiative, the club conducted an eyewear collection drive in the presence of GLT Neeta Agarwal. A total of 77 pairs of spectacles were collected, of which 50 pairs were donated to the Lions Eye Centre and 27 pairs to Mother Teresa Orphanage.
Promoting environmental sustainability, the club planted 50 saplings in different parts of Marwari Patti, Dimapur. The plantation drive highlighted the importance of greener surroundings, cleaner air and healthier living environments. The campaign was carried out under the slogan, “Plant a tree today for a greener tomorrow and a clearer vision for generations to come.”
The club further organised an eye donation awareness programme for senior citizens, educating participants on the significance of eye donation and its role in restoring sight to individuals affected by corneal blindness.
Observing International White Cane Safety Day, the club donated 15 white canes to visually impaired beneficiaries, including elderly persons, young adults and children, at Mother Teresa Old Age Home and Pordigal Orphanage.
