ROTARY CLUB AKOWONJO GIVES SIGHT TO THE BLIND; PRES. AJENIFUJA, DGN KUKOYI, PDG ONABADEJO HAILS SUPPORT
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
PDG Bola Onabadejo (2nd left); District Governor Nominee, Dr. Oluwole Kukoyi (3rd left); President, Rotary Club Akowonjo, Rotarian Olawale Ajenifuja (2nd right); Secretary, Rotary Club Akowonjo (right); Elder Kelani Wasiu (3rd right) and his son (left).
For the Rotary Club, health is a key thrust of the organization’s seven focus areas. This is why Rotary Club Akowonjo is committed to healthcare.
Recently, under the administration of the Imaginative President, Rotr. Olawale Ajenifuja, Mr. Kelani Wasiu got his eyesight back after losing it to cataract.
Trek Africa Newspaper can report that the eye operation was conducted free of charge by the hospital owned by the District Governor Nominee, Dr. Oluwole Kukoyi. This was after the man got a referral during an outreach conducted by the Rotary Club Akowonjo.
At the last meeting of the Rotary Club Akowonjo on Monday 20th March, the District Governor 2016 Rotary Year, Otunba Bola Onabadejo shared more insight about the Rotary Club International. ‘Rotary Club is the first service organization in the entire world. It was established on 19th February 1905 by Paul Harriis and his friends. It went international 6 years later when it was established in Winnipeg, Canada. Since then, Rotary Club is known all over the world. There are 7 major areas – peace and conflict prevention, health, economy, and others. Rotary Club is very concerned especially in this month called the WASH month because we believe that many diseases in the world are spread because of lack of good water. Environment was added three years ago. This is my club, I am a chartered member of this club.’
‘May we not lose our eyesight. Whoever that can’t see is in darkness, our baba is now in light. It was 10 people that was healed, only 1 came back to show gratitude and his healing became perfect. Whoever does well deserved to be thanked. This is what a good rotarian should do and I thank the President and the DGN for what they did for that man. Our DGN used his hospital to do this. This is what Rotary Club stands for’, PDG Bola Onabadejo told Trek Africa Newspaper.
The man, Mr. Kelani Wasiu who came on the thank you visit revealed: ‘I had eyesight issues – cataract – I couldn’t see anymore. So my child took me to Ajenifuja who gave us card to meet Oluwole Kukoyi. Now I can see, I have come to say thank you. May God bless you, all you seek for good you will find it. No evil will befall you. Your children will prosper. Thank you for saving me.’
In his response, the District Governor Nominee, Dr. Oluwole Kukoyi said: ‘I was moved when I saw the man this evening. He reminded me of previous operations we have done in the past. When you see how appreciative people are of what you do, it makes you to do more. This is what Rotary Club does all over the world. We impact people’s lives in many ways. It gives us pride. This is what Rotary Club is all about – to give sight to those who are blind, to give education to those who are underprivileged.’
‘I am happy that Rotary Club has been able to give you sight. I am happy that through Rotary Club you are healthy, I am also happy that you have come back to show appreciation because it is not all those that are shown kindness that shows gratitude. Our prayer is that you will continue to have health, you and your whole family. Please tell others that this is the kind deeds that Rotary Club does. Thank you President Ajenifuja for following through.’
‘For those who work in a dusty environment, we advise them to use something to cover their eyes and more importantly, we expect people to do regular checkup where diseases such as glaucoma and cataract can be detected in the early stages. When they are detected early, it is easier to treat’, Rotr. Dr. Kukoyi advised the general public.
Recalling how they effected the intervention, the Imaginatiive Governor 2022/23, Rotr. Olawale Ajenifuja informed Trek Africa Newspaper, ‘I was elected more than 1 and half years ago so in Rotary Club, you would have been prepared for your year. In the area of the health assistance to Kelani Wasiu is because of preparedness. He was not a Rotary Club member but we have people who benefit as freelance. He came in when we had an outreach, I asked the matron to give a referral form to the man to take to the hospital where he was operated and he can see. It is at a cost I must tell you that sincerely. I thank my DGN, Dr. Kukoyi.’
‘In Akowonjo here that is what we are enjoying. I must say thank you to my PDG Otunba Bolaji Onabadejo that today, around 1am I saw his message that all the expenses for tonight has been paid. We all say thank you. God will continue to help you to do more for humanity’, Ajenifuja concluded.
