FCMB ORGANISES FREE EYE TESTS AND SURGERIES; SEE HOW TO BENEFIT.

VANGUARD REPORTS THAT FIRST City Monument Bank, FCMB in its corporate social
responsibility drive has sponsored free eye screening and
cataract surgery in a programme tagged, ‘Priceless Gift
of Sight’ in Kebbi, Cross Rivers and Imo states.
The programme involves eye screening tests, full
ophthalmic medical examination, eye surgeries, provision
of free medication, eye glasses and counselling for those
suffering from cataract, an eye defect that could lead to
blindness if not promptly treated. This marks the eight
consecutive year the Bank is organising this intervention
programme in partnership with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation
(TCF), a Nigerian-Indian non-profit organisation.
Thousands of people across Nigeria have so far benefited
from the exercise since it commenced in 2009.
•Jonathan D. Long, Chairman FCMB & •Ladi Balogun,
MD/CEO
This year, the Bank sponsored 500 eye surgeries in
Kebbi, Cross Rivers and Imo states, while thousand
others underwent the screening for cataract during the
programme.
Speaking on the involvement of FCMB, Group Head,
Corporate Affairs of the Bank, Mr. Diran Olojo, said, “the
importance of sight to the well-being of an individual and
the nation cannot be over-emphasised. We are proud to
sustain the sponsorship of this initiative with Tulsi
Chanrai Foundation because it has continued to
positively touch and transform the lives of thousands of
people, homes, businesses and indeed, the society. We
believe that all communities in which we operate should
benefit from our presence by contributing to their
sustainable development. Our commitment to providing
help and meeting the needs of some people in the society
has continued to model our approach to how we operate
as a business”.
He pointed out that cataract has become a global
problem that affects mostly the aged, but recent
discoveries have shown that it is beginning to also affect
the younger ones.
Mr. Olojo pointed out that this has negative implications
for the socio-economic development of the country,
especially in the areas of manpower development and
poverty alleviation.  We plan to extend the programme to
more communities and other states soon”, the FCMB
spokesman added.