Contact:
Nicole Brown, Communications Manager LCIF
nicole.brown@lionsclubs.org
630-468-6887
Melitta Cutright, Public Relations Manager, LCI
melitta.cutright@lionsclubs.org
630-468-6864

For Immediate Release

Lions World Sight Day 2008 to Screen, Educate Hispanics and Native Americans October 15-17 in Arizona

OAK BROOK, Illinois, USA, September 4, 2008 — Lions Clubs International will mark Lions World Sight Day in Arizona, USA, October 15-17. Lions members from Arizona and New Mexico will screen the eyes of hundreds of Native Americans on the Navajo Reservation in Window Rock, Arizona, and provide eyeglasses to those who need them. Lions will also arrange for follow-up medical care for those who need it. Lions plan to conduct two diabetes screenings for senior citizens, Hispanics and Native Americans in Phoenix and conduct an eye screening and distribute eyeglasses at the Arizona Lions Vision Center in Phoenix. This marks the first time that the major event of Lions World Sight Day will be held in Arizona.

“Diabetes is at an epidemic level among many Native Americans, especially in the Southwest, and it is very high among Hispanics,” said Albert Brandel, president of Lions Clubs International. “These groups are at great risk of developing eye diseases that can lead to blindness. Information about eye disease and the strong links between diabetes and eye disease often doesn’t reach the Native American and Hispanic communities. That’s why we are spotlighting the need for screenings for sight and diabetes in Arizona.”

Native American adults are 2.2 times more likely to have diabetes than Caucasians and the percentage of young Native Americans with diabetes is increasing rapidly. Around 27 percent of Native Americans in the Southwest are reported to have diabetes, with the percentage being much higher among some demographic groups.

A recent Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) study conducted with the National Eye Institute found that Hispanics reported the lowest access to eye health information among all racial/ethnic groups participating in the survey.

Blindness is not a problem only in developing countries. Even in the United States there are at-risk groups that are in danger of losing their sight. With funds raised from our successful Campaign SightFirst II, we can address emerging threats to sight in developed countries, such as diabetic eye diseases,” said Brandel.

Lions clubs around the world will also hold local activities throughout October to educate their communities about the need to conquer blindness and preserve sight. For Lions World Sight Day in the past, local Lions clubs have screened the vision of children in Bosnia and Herzegovina; conducted cataract screenings and surgeries in Madagascar; screened high-risk populations for diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in California; and scheduled programs to educate community members about what can be done to prevent vision loss in countries around the world.
 
Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.3 million members in 45,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. Lions Clubs International Foundation is the charitable arm of Lions Clubs International. LCIF was ranked by a Financial Times’ study as the number one non-governmental organization with which to partner. Established in 1968, LCIF has been involved with blindness prevention and treatment for more than 15 years through the SightFirst program. Learn more at www.lionclubs.org and www.lcif.org.