Over 300 undergo free eye test, treatment in Margibi

Following the free eye test in Weala, those with complicated cases would be transported to Monrovia for treatment at the JFK Eye Center.

Monrovia, September 23, 2024: Over three hundred residents of Margibi County have undergone eye tests and treatment where necessary through an initiative sponsored by Indian businessman and philanthropist Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva (Mr. Jeety).

Mr. Jeety is sponsoring the free eye test and treatment program in Weala, Margibi County through his Jeety Rubber Company and his newly acquired Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC).

The LV Prasad Eye Institute based on the state-owned John F. Kennedy (JFK) Medical Center in Monrovia implemented the Jeety-sponsored free eye test and treatment program in Weala on Saturday, September 21, 2024.

Police and journalists who covered the program also used the opportunity to know their status as the Jeety Medical Center in Weala became a scene of attraction over the weekend.

Hundreds of residents trooped to the facility along with kids to benefit from the free eye screening and treatment program in the county.

Following the screening, those who needed to be treated for various eye complications got treated, and where necessary, asked to travel to JFK in Monrovia.

Others were issued free medicines and reading glasses by Dr. Niranjan Pehere, Head of the LV Prasad Eye Clinic, and his team.

The beneficiaries, including elderly women and children, gathered at the facility as early as 6 AM on Saturday, September 21, 2024, to benefit from the initiative.

At the commencement of the exercise, Dr. Pehere told reporters that the screening and treatment of the beneficiaries was an outreach program sponsored by Mr. Sachdeva, who is also sponsoring the eye clinic at JFK.

According to him, the initiative was taken to Margibi to help address various eye complications that many of the residents were experiencing.

He named cataracts as the most frequent eye complication screened and treated among many of the beneficiaries.

He added that there were also cases of increased pressure in the eyes, which sometimes makes people blind.

Dr. Pehere pointed out that those experiencing various eye diseases were given eye drops to reduce the pressure, while others at a higher stage would have to go under operation at the JFK in Monrovia.

According to him, modern eye care equipment is being used by his team to treat different kinds of eye complications.

“Mr. Jeety has been instrumental in creating our eye clinic at JFK and when he confronted us to come here for an outreach, we were very excited for the opportunity because we know that there is no eye care facility in Margibi County.”

“We are also so excited that before we even arrived here, there were over 200 patients waiting for us.”

Dr. Pehere noted that the influx of patients who benefit from the treatment signifies the significance of extending and continuing the initiative not only in Margibi County but other parts of the country.

He expressed hope that the initiative will continue to be carried out regularly.

“We look forward to working with Mr. Jeety and do this activity most often.”

Also speaking, Mr. Sachdeva disclosed that the increase in the number of virtually impaired citizens in the county prompted him to carry out the initiative in Weala.

“I have seen a lot of blindness; I can assure the people of Margibi and Liberia that we will have an eye treatment center stationed here in Margibi County.”

He vowed to continue the initiative for a lifetime, noting that, “forever and ever and as long I am living, I will do it because I believe in God’s works.”

“I don’t believe in corporate social responsibility. I believe that this is God’s initiative and he’s guiding me to do so. This is a free will to the community.”

He further pointed out that his medical center established in Margibi has commenced full operations.

According to him, the facility currently has two doctors from India providing healthcare delivery to the citizenry along with other competent and qualified Liberian healthcare workers.

Patrick Kormazu is the County Commander of the Liberia National Police (LNP) in Margibi. He was one of those who benefitted from the initiative.

“This is a good initiative for the people of Margibi and I appreciate it.”

He observed that the screening process was thorough but maintained that it was intended to ensure proper prescription or treatment for any eye complications.

“I went through different kinds of testing and lastly, I was prescribed a reading glass. I took advantage of the service being rendered to the people and it was good I came.”

Kormazu noted that the initiative has played a pivotal role in enabling him to know his eye’s status.

He observed that the free eye care treatment initiative being sponsored by Mr. Jeety is welcoming as many citizens experiencing various eye complications cannot foot the medical bills at various hospitals operating in the country.

“It’s good that you know your status because you might be walking and feel that you are okay. You should go and do your testing to know the status of your eyes because you are not a doctor. I extend my appreciation to Mr. Jeety for the services he’s rendering to our people.”

He, however, used this medium to urge citizens to properly take care of their eyes which remain one of the most sensitive organs in the human body.

“I am hopeful that with the testing and medication that I went through and have been given, my eyes would not be the same,” an elderly woman suffering from cataract stated.

The woman who only identified herself as Esther, vowed to undergo treatment and care for the eyes proposed to her by Dr. Pehere.

In the same vein, beneficiaries of the free eye test and treatment received from the Jeety Corporation plates of hot cooked meal and water during the exercise.

Many of the beneficiaries were unable to treat their various eye diseases due to the lack of money.

“We want to take this time to call on our government, representatives, and senators to see reason too to help provide us free medical care because many of us that are here today cannot afford to go to the hospital on our own; that’s the reason we are here,” a man identified as Anthony Davis, stated.

Those with complicated cases would be transported to Monrovia to be treated at the eye center at JFK.

Their transportation and accommodation would be shouldered by Mr. Sachdeva.