As Nigerian children prepare for the celebration of this year’s National Children’s Day, First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) in partnership with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (a non-governmental organization) and the Otunba Tunwase National Paediatric Centre (OTNPC), Ijebu-Ode, have commenced free eye screening for 5,000 Nigerian children in public primary schools in Ogun State.

This intervention activity the bank said is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative tagged Priceless Gift, which enables the bank to make a life changing contribution to the disadvantaged and vulnerable people within the communities in which the bank operates.

The current free eye screening is a gift to Nigerian children in commemoration of the 2010 National Children’s Day coming up on May 27. The bank commenced the Priceless Gift Initiative in December 2009 when sight was restored to 600 cataract patients in four geographical regions in the country.

Free eye screening commenced on April 16 and will last till May 28, 2010 under specially trained health and medical experts. Camping commenced from May 24, at the OTNCP for further screening by Optometrists and ophthalmologists, and where necessary, prescriptions and medication will be given to the children. Tunde Shofowora, FCMB’s Head of Corporate Communication said, “At FCMB, we believe in giving back to the communities in which we operate.

That is why as part of activities marking this year’s National Children’s Day, we are giving the Priceless Gift of sight starting with the free eye screening of over 5,000 underprivileged Nigerian. With Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, and the Otunba Tunwase National Paediatric Centre, we will be working hard to restore vision, reduce avoidable blindness, especially cataract among children, in rural parts of the country.”