THE Lions Club of Bel Air is currently observing its 45th Charter Anniversary and launched this activity on January 21, 2018, with a ‘Project-a-Day’ initiative, which culminated at the end of January.

The club has to its credit, thousands of Projects in Service to the people of Guyana, and among its activities are: Work in the fields of sight conservation, education, the environment; health: diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases; regular medical clinics at its own Civic Centre where, in collaboration with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, they diagnose and fill prescriptions free of cost.

The Lions Club of Bel Air has been responsible for donating several items much needed by the public, among them being: a tractor for agricultural farms; bus sheds at the roadsides, and garbage bins for schools and institutions, among other things.

The Lions Club of Bel Air also presently has to its credit, the distinction of being rated among the best in the Commonwealth Caribbean, British and U.S, Virgin Islands.
The International Association of Lions Clubs, with Bel Air as one of its Chartered Clubs, is operating within its Centenary of 100 years in over 218 countries and spending billions of dollars to alleviate the sufferings of mankind.

The Lions Club of Bel Air was organised and founded by the present Past District Governor 3-Star S.M.V Nasseer and among its distinguished membership were men of great leadership qualities including, businessmen, professionals, Law and Medicine. Its Honorary Members were: The Late Sir Lionel Luckhoo Q.C;Chancellor J.O.F Haynes and Associate Chancellor Sir Kenneth Stoby.

The club operates from its own Civic Centre building in Enachu Street, Georgetown.Its junior arm, the Leos Club of Bel Air is also serving in the same fields with some distinguished youths.
Within the past six months, the club was engaged in the following:

ENVIRONMENTAL
Two modern bus sheds were completed and handed over. One erected on Duncan Street was handed over to the Mayor of Georgetown by Immediate Past President, Ln. Bob Corlew on behalf of the Bel Air club by Lions International and the other on Vlissingen Road, opposite the Zoological Park. The other was handed over to the Hon. Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, by President of the Bel Air Lions Club, Ln. Tara Naraine.

• An International Coastal Clean-up was conducted on October 1, 2017, in which Lions Club members participated by removing for disposal, 350 pounds of garbage.

• Several tree-planting exercises were done at schools around the city, aimed at encouraging youths to care for their environment.

LEOS COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP
Garbage bins were distributed to Campbellville Post Office, Tucville Secondary School; the Juvenile Holding Centre and the Guyana Society for the Blind. A new sign board was also installed at the Guyana Society for the Blind.

DIABETICS AND HEALTH
Diabetic Clinics in collaboration with the St Joseph Mercy Hospital are held at the Bel Air Lions’ Civic Centre every other month. Regular clinics were held between July and November 2017 and one in January 2018. Residents of St.Vincent De Paul and The Archer’s Home attended, as well as members of the public. Patients are attended by medical staff of the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and given free medication.

Additionally, a Diabetes Clinic was held at Ln Ramchand’s residence on Sheriff Street, in collaboration with the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, where 102 persons received free blood sugar, blood pressure testing and foot care on Aug 12th. It also participated in the Ministry of Public Health’s Diabetes Awareness Walk in November 2017.

To commemorate World Diabetes Day on November 14, the Big Blue Saturday, a Diabetes Awareness and Health Clinic was held at the Stabroek Market Square, hosted by the Lions Club of Bel Air, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health; The Guyana Diabetic Association, the Young Leaders in Diabetes; St. Joseph Mercy Hospital; the Guyana Football Federation; Ansa Mc Al and the New GPC. FREE testing of BMI, RBS, Pressure, Dental Health Care, Foot Care, Disability and Rehabilitation Services and also Eye Screening were done by Lion Club members. The project impacted over 600 persons.

SENIOR CITIZENS HOMES AND ORPHANAGES
The Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre receives a monthly monetary contribution from the Bel Air Lions Club.Donations of cash and/or kind were made to various Senior Homes, namely St. Thomas Moore Men’s Home, the Archer’s Home, Uncle Eddie’s Home; the Plaisance Boys Orphanage; the Shaheed’s Boys & Girls Orphanage; the Cheshire Home, Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre; the Red Cross Convalescent Home and the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, received donations of personal care items and also gifts from the Leos for the Christmas season.

EDUCATION AND YOUTH
Other projects held included: a Back-to-School project during the month of August, when 100 children from the Tavel Foundation, the Giving Hope Foundation and also those living in the Albouystown area were given book bags containing stationery supplies. A Literacy project was done with the children of the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre; also at the National Library and Joshua House and to commemorate International Literacy Day at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Cheer was also spread at the Smith Memorial Primary; St Stephen’s Primary and Tavel Foundation and the Lancers Youth Group, as they were given footballs.

CONSERVATION
Other major activities included: Sight Conservation which involved the receipt of a kind donation of eyeglasses from Dr Jeff Chapman, a member of the Bedford Township Lions Club of Temperance, Michigan, U.S.A. The eyeglasses were then distributed to other Lions Club Presidents in Guyana to conduct Sight Conservation Projects.

A total of 260 students were screened from three schools: Campbellville Secondary, Redeemer Primary and Bel Air Primary school. Sixty students were shortlisted and received a full eye examination from Dr. Yohan DaSilva from Modern Optical Service on Middle Street. The presentation was done by the Lions International Immediate Past President Ln Bob Corlew at the Civic Centre, where 48 students received eyeglasses on July 24.

Further eye-screening exercises were conducted at the Shaheed’s Boys Orphanage, where the boys and girls were screened to commemorate World Sight Day, Oct 12. Additional screenings were done at the Diabetic Health Clinic at Stabroek Market and at the Archer’s Home.

The Visually Impaired Cultural Association of Guyana held their Annual Christmas Concert and the Lions of Bel-Air assisted at the food bar on December 3.

RESPONSE TO HUNGER
The Bel Air Lions Club has also engaged in feeding projects throughout the year, serving lunches, breakfasts and snacks at several institutions and orphanages around Georgetown.

OTHER PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN
The Passing of the Queen’s Torch, August 8
A Cancer Awareness Candle Light Vigil Friday evening, October 27, held by the Giving Hope Foundation.

The Cancer Awareness Walk led by the Giving Hope Foundation, Sunday October 29.
The Lions Club of Bel Air wishes to thank all sponsors, fellow Lions Clubs and the general public for their kind support.