By Chinedu Adonu
The Global University Admission Consultancy, GUAC, based in Germany weekend, provided free eye care services, including screening and treatment to over 500 students and teachers of Holy Rosary College (HRC) Uwani, Enugu.
The free eye care medical outreach was part of activities to mark the scholarship programme of GUAC for the school.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer and founder of GUAC, Sandra Viehoever Onyeama, emphasized that the programme’s main goals are to ensure that no girl child is left blind and to promote access to quality education for every girl child.
Onyeama, represented by one of the GUAC coordinator in Nigeria, Nne Onuoha, highlighted the organization’s commitment to giving back to society in line with its mission, adding that the outreach aimed to reach its target of 500 beneficiaries.
“It is out of the founder of GUAC, Sandra Onyeama’s benevolent that a scholarship programme was instituted here, at Holy Rosary College, Enugu. And one of the activities lined up to kick it off was a medical outreach, an eye service programme, with a team of Ophtholmetrics and Ophtalmologists. We are here actually to give back to the society in line with vision of the CEO of GUAC.
“It is always on her good wish that everybody is fine; the students and teachers of Holy Rosary College, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and people from Eke community in Udi local government Area.
“She decided to start the scholarship from HRC because the founder is an old girls of the school. She decided to start it in her Alma Mata, the school that trained her during her secondary school education and the programme is for the whole Nigeria but we chose to begin from HRC.
“Our target is 500 persons and we can continue if we have more than that number here. Every person that is being tested here must go home with the medicine that is peculiar to her or his eye problem,” she explained.
One of the doctors, Dr. Onyinye Onyia, an ophthalmologist, emphasized the significance of the medical outreach, which serves as a preliminary step toward inaugurating a scholarship scheme aimed at giving back to the educational institution that shaped their careers.
She explained that the primary goal of the eye care outreach is to ensure that participants do not experience undiagnosed eye problems, maintaining eye moisture with topical medications to support optimal eye function for a brighter future.
“We brought topical medications to ensure that nobody is left blind or needlessly go blind. We are also providing spectacles for those that have error to correct it and to elderly people that have myopia issue a reading spectacles”, she said.
In her remarks, the Principal of HRC, Rev. Sis. Dr. Obiageli Ugwuja commended the the NGO for the initiative.
“I am incredibly excited about this medical outreach. It stands out as a remarkable initiative, especially coming from an alumna who is committed to giving back to the students of this school,” she stated.
Rev. Ugwuja emphasized Onyeama’s ongoing support, noting that her efforts extend beyond just this outreach.
“She has made substantial contributions to our school and continues to do so. By giving back to those who guided her education, she exemplifies a true commitment to our institution. Not everyone remembers their roots, but she consistently finds ways to support our students, including providing scholarships for those facing financial challenges in the school,” she said.
In a goodwill message, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu State Chapter, Prof. Fred Eze lauded the sponsor, Onyeama for giving back to the society.