As a way of assisting the government to meet the needs of the Nigerian people, Christ Hospital Ministry (CHM), a non-denominational, International Christian Charity Organization with branches in different parts of the world recently conducted free eye test and gave out free eye glasses and medication to as many that attended its 6th Annual Conference held at the Chapel of Christ of Light, Alausa, Lagos.

With the theme, Eye Care, the programme sought to address some basic needs of the people, especially problems associated with the eye.

While delivering her lecture, entitled, Eye Care, a Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr. Omobolade Akinbami, said of all eye problems that could cause blindness,and glaucoma was one of the deadliest because it causes irreversible blindness by destroying the nerves that connect the eye to the brain.
According to her, “it is a silent blinder in the sense that it doesn’t give any symptom and many people don’t know for a long time that they have glaucoma. The only way you could know you have glaucoma, in the early stage, is if you go for an eye test.”

Dr. Akinbami explained that if a patient had 20percent damage, there was nothing anyone can do to change it and if the patient is unfortunate to have 90 percent damage, then that was really sad.
She, therefore, advised everyone to have routine medical check up and find time to perform personal assessment of the eyes to avoid silent blindness.

Speaking, the President, CHM, Nigeria, who is also the Vice President of CHM, Africa, Deaconess Joyce O. Akinola, said the lecture had been educative and beneficial to everyone.
Her word: “we discovered that the main weapon the devil uses to inflict sickness on people is ignorance. Most people are not aware of some little things they need to do and stay healthy. Majority do not know that even the most deadly diseases are preventable, especially by what we involve our bodies in on day-to-day basis. This we try to tackle by organizing health talks and seminars to get our people adequately informed of the responsibility given to them by God to live a health conscious life.”

Akinola stated that the conference was designed by the ministry to bring awareness to the people on health matters. For this year’s event, she said free eye test, medication and glasses were given out to the people to alleviate their problems.
She said the ministry was out to bring hope to the hopeless, adding that it will never relent in helping huminity.
Also speaking, President, CHM worldwide, Rev. Samuel Ajani Ajibola, said it has always been great for the ministry when people are blessed and above all for people to come out and volunteer to help the hopeless.

He stated that “CHM is structured to enlighten our brethren on how to live a healthy life, assist the sick in prayers and to physically care for them in the hospitals and their homes.”
He hinted that since it’s inauguration in the United Kingdom, on September 2, 2000, “God has been working with us confirming His presence with miracles in the lives of the sick people whom we have been ministering to and expanding the ministry to many other nations of the world.”

He emphasised that the aim of the ministry was to touch as many people as possible even if it meant going to the villages. “As long as life is saved and protected, we will be there,” he explained.
In his remarks, Executive Director, Management Services, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Sam Ayininuola, who was the chairman on the occasion, said, the event was a lesson to other Nigerians to help the needy through the right channel.

He warned Nigerian to beware of organizations that siphon money from them to enrich their felicitators instead meeting the needs of the poor.
He praised CHM for its good work, while emphasizing that the group was genuinely committed to good works.