Melvin Jones Lions Eye Hospital
A small piece of land was allotted in 1986 to the Lions Club of Cuttack by the Government. Preliminary construction and layout work was immediately initiated by the then-visionary Lions leaders, and the fundamental foundation work was successfully completed by 1993.
In 1993-94, it was decided to constitute a dedicated trust to oversee the construction and administrative management of the Hospital. Progress moved rapidly, and by 1998, the Ground floor structure was completed, allowing OPD diagnostics and consultation facilities to be opened to the general public.
Within just a year of operation, specialized cataract surgical services were introduced. In alignment with our humanitarian vision, these surgeries were initially provided completely free of charge.
Soon thereafter, with the tireless support and financial assistance of Lions members, their families, and friends, state-of-the-art ophthalmic machinery including advanced Phacoemulsification systems, high-power microscopes, and Auto-refractometers was acquired. From that point forward, there was no looking back.
In the intervening years, the completion of the 1st and 2nd floors was achieved, passenger lifts were installed, and dedicated transport buses for outreach camp patients were acquired, giving immense operational momentum to our healthcare activities.
Our core objective is to provide high-quality free treatment and cataract operations to the underprivileged public of nearby districts. Although these free surgical facilities were temporarily suspended for the past two years due to revised State Government guidelines, we anticipate this to be resolved within a month or two, enabling us to fully resume our core community outreach services.
In the meantime, we have maintained a steady financial balance sheet, supported by a healthy and regular inflow of paid patients, which subsidizes our charitable work.
Our ultimate vision is to transition this hospital into an ideal, fully-equipped eye care institution. Actively establishing a specialized diabetic retinopathy unit stands as our next frontier, and we are determined to conquer it. I extend my heartiest congratulations and gratitude to all Lions friends, families, and supporters for their cooperation in making this hospital a pride for Lions Odisha.