Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove-Estate Seeks More Support to Expand Free Cataract Surgery Programme

The Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove-Estate has called on Nigerians and corporate organisations to offer greater support for its life-changing cataract surgery initiative, which has so far restored sight to more than 30,000 people across Nigeria.

The appeal follows the club’s latest milestone — the successful completion of 2,500 free cataract surgeries in Lagos, conducted in collaboration with the Indo Eye Care Foundation and the Indian community under its flagship Mission for Vision project.

The exercise, attended by the Consul General of India in Lagos, Shri Chandranmouli Kumar, and Rotary International District 9111 Governor, Prince Henry Akinyele, was hailed as one of Rotary’s most impactful humanitarian interventions.

Akinyele praised the Palmgrove-Estate Club for its dedication to eye health, noting that the project perfectly embodies Rotary’s principle of “Service Above Self.”
“When you restore a person’s sight, you give them back their dignity, livelihood, and sense of belonging,” he said. “In just a few months, I’ve witnessed clubs transforming lives — from providing clean water to empowering artisans and funding peace initiatives.”

Consul General Kumar commended the partnership, describing it as “a model collaboration with no profit motive but immense societal benefit.” He urged Nigerians to contribute to sustaining the initiative.
“Both funding and volunteer manpower are vital to keeping this noble project alive. The story of the Indo Eye Care Foundation deserves to be amplified so that more lives can be touched,” he said.

According to Tarun Sanghvi, Head Trustee of the Indo Eye Care Foundation, the programme — supported by the Lagos State Ministry of Health — aims to perform 2,500 surgeries annually during each Rotary year.
“Every operation is completely free,” Sanghvi explained. “Patients pay nothing for consultations, surgery, post-operative care, or even refreshments. We provide water, juice, and snacks for patients and families who arrive as early as 6 a.m. and stay till evening.”

Since its inception in 2005, the initiative has carried out over 30,000 cataract surgeries, distributed thousands of free eyeglasses, and screened tens of thousands of schoolchildren for vision challenges. The hospital — once repurposed as a COVID-19 facility by the Indian community — now houses modern ophthalmic equipment.

President of the Rotary Club, Mr. Pravin Kumar, described the effort as “a collective commitment to humanity,” while Mission for Vision Project Chair, Mr. Anuj Murarka, said the programme demonstrates what public-private and community partnerships can achieve in addressing healthcare inequities and restoring hope.

Beneficiaries also shared moving testimonies. One of them, Atama Samuel, called the surgery “a miracle.”
“I can now see colours, faces, and work again,” he said. “At first, I didn’t believe such a project could be completely free — but it truly is.”

Looking ahead, the Rotary Club of Lagos Palmgrove-Estate plans to expand its annual cataract surgeries from 2,500 to 5,000 and sustain its school screening programme, which recently covered 94 schools, screened 50,000 pupils, and provided over 10,000 free eyeglasses.