Abuja:
An Indian volantary organisation has joined hands with the Indian community in Nigeria and the Rotary Club to set up an eye hospital in Africa's most populous country, a media report said.
The Indo Eye Care Foundation, in cooperation with the Indian diaspora and the Rotary Club of Lagos-Palmgrove Estate, has started work on the construction of a charitable eye hospital in Lagos, Nigeria's The Guardian daily reported on Monday.
Built at the cost of 550 million Nigerian naira (about $2.7 million), the hospital will facilitate surgery of eye related ailments including eyes transplant.
"A programme to assist poor Nigerians to regain their sight -- "Mission for Vision" -- commenced in 2005. Since then, medical professionals from India have been visiting Nigeria to carry out free surgeries across the country," Rotary Club of Lagos-Palmgrove Estate's past president Naranbhai Patel said.
In order to boost the humanitarian programme, it was decided to establish the hospital with assistance from Indian community, prominent Nigerians and Rotary International.
Mr Patel lauded the efforts of the Lagos state government and Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Aremu Akiolu, in making the land available for the facility.
The hospital, expected to be completed within a year, will be equipped with the latest equipment to effectively address the problems of millions of Nigerians with sight challenges.