Airtel deepens CSR with eye-screening exercise in adopted school

Lagos, Nigeria; 8th April, 2014: In line with its Corporate Social Responsibility objectives, leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has taken another giant stride in its Adopt-a-School CSR initiative by conducting free Eye-Screening exercise for pupils and teachers of its adopted Primary School in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Coming on the heels of similar exercises carried out recently at its adopted schools in Umumara, Imo State and Ediba in Cross Rivers State, the Airtel goodwill train made its stop at St. John's Anglican Primary School, Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State where hundreds of pupils, teachers, people from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and community leaders turned out en masse to participate and witness the exercise.

A total of 567 pupils, 32 teachers and about 25 people from the community were examined by the team of medical experts.

Speaking shortly before flagging off the eye-screening exercise, His Royal Highness, Oba Haruna Abass, Bejeroku of Oke-Agbo, who notably has been working for the improvement of the community since he was installed stated that, Airtel Nigeria has further contributed to the development of the locality through its social interventions at the school and the community in which it is situated.

The monarch who was represented by one of his chiefs, Otunba Augustine Olufemi Asegbe, said, 'We thank the management and staff of Airtel for their love for children. As we know, children of today are leaders of tomorrow. Airtel acknowledges this fact that is why it has decided to perform this eye screening exercise for the pupils of this school. I thank Airtel Nigeria for what you have done and I wish the company greater heights.'

On her part, the Education Secretary, Ijebu-North Local Government, Alhaja Mistura Balogun commended Airtel Nigeria for touching the lives of pupils, teachers and pupils in the local government, saying other companies should emulate the telco in touching lives.

She said, 'Airtel has been part of the family for improving the lot of teachers and families in the local government. The truth is that some children come from humble background and so could not afford the regular health check-up. There are some diseases that affect the eyes; if care is not taken it could lead to blindness at a very early stage. And some parents are ignorant of this. Some might even feel it resulted from spiritual attack. So, this initiative is coming at a right time to prevent, cure and rescue the children from eye diseases. I pray that God continues to strengthen Airtel.'

In the same vein, the Vice Chairman of Ijebu-North Local Government, Hon. Adenuga Adebayo gave kudos to Airtel Nigeria, saying the commitment of the telco to the people shows the value Airtel attaches to education, health, young children and adults alike. He said, 'Lots of children will benefit from this eye-screening exercise. More so, the cost burden of the eye test has been lifted off the shoulders of the parents. Airtel has prioritised the health of our children and indirectly our future.' Hon. Adebayo also recalled that he was present when Airtel commissioned the blocks of classroom and borehole for the school.

The eye-screening exercise which also received remarkable commendations from the Parents -Teachers Association (PTA), teachers, pupils and community members started on the Tuesday 1st of April to Wednesday 2nd April, 2014.

In the last three weeks, Airtel Nigeria successfully conducted the free eye screening exercises two other adopted schools namely: Community Primary School, Amumara in Imo State and Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross River State. The exercise helped to detect and treat visual impairment that otherwise could lead to blindness.