Douglas residents are set to benefit from generous donations from the Lions Club of equipment and a vehicle in an aim to improve optical health in the region.

Members of the Lions International Board and their partners will spend 10 days in Port Douglas for their annual board meeting starting this Sunday at Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, which will be opened by Her Excellency, The Governor of Queensland MS Penelope Wensley AC.

The Board represents 207 member countries of the organisation and drives a worldwide program that includes blindness prevention, the eradication of measles, and critical and timely response to major disasters.

Lions’ first-ever Australian president of Lions International, Barry Palmer AM, has chosen Port Douglas for hosting his first international board meeting, making the event a world first for a regional Australian location. Mr Palmer and his wife, Anne, arrived in Cairns on Wednesday, much to the excitement of Lions members from Port Douglas, Mossman, Cairns and North Queensland.

The 10-day meeting will culminate in the celebration of World Sight Day next Thursday, October 10 with special events being held in Mossman.

On Thursday 10 October at 9am, Mossman Lions Club members will hold vision screenings for students at Mossman State School in conjunction with Mossman Hospital Community Health Services.  Later that same day, further screenings will also be conducted at St Augustine’s School in Mossman.

In addition, vision screenings will be held for the public in the Mossman Shire Hall also with the support of Mossman Hospital Community Health Services and local eye health specialists.

“Vision screenings are an important first step towards preventing and treating eye disease,” Mr Palmer said.

“Our activities in Mossman represent Lions’ global efforts to provide vision services. Lions World Sight Day is a perfect opportunity to celebrate Lions Clubs International and Lions Clubs International Foundation’s commitment to promoting universal eye care.”

The local event also comes in conjunction with an announcement that Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has awarded Lions Australia a US$50,000 SightFirst Grant to support eye health activities in Far North Queensland.

The funds will go towards the purchase a Retinomax 3 Auto Refractor/Keratometer for Cairns Base Hospital’s opthalmic services, and a bus to facilitate patient transfers by the Mossman Health Centre from the Douglas region to Cairns for specialist opthamology appointments and other eye related professional services.

Currently patients pay $170 per round trip on public transport at their own expense, resulting in appointments being missed, as many patients simply cannot afford the cost.

Mossman’s Lions branch is also welcoming new members. For more information, phone Mossman president, Geoff Coe on 4098 4115 or 0417 747 913.