Lions Club International President-Lion Chancellor Robert Corlew out to hunt the blind

By Francis Chipalo

IN their quest to contributing to the well-being of society, Lions Club International has announced that it has embarked on a project of tackling blindness in the country,
And the lions says they will start eye-screening children in order to avoid possible blindness.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka today, Lions Club International President, Lion Chancellor Robert Corlew said the Lions had observed the challenges the visually impaired faced in terms of seeking medical care.
“We have embarked on a project of tackling blindness in all our countries of operations globally and District 413- Zambia is one of these countries where we want not only to treat the disease, but to also prevent it!” said Chancellor Corlew amidst applauds from fellow lions in attendance.
Chancellor Lion Corlew also said prevention of the disease was better than treatment.
“This is why we want to start the screening of children so that we avoid the disease,” he said.
Meanwhile, 413 District Governor, Lion Danie; Zyambo said the district expressed worry that some visually impaired Zambians were not willing to leave the streets for the Ndola School of the Visually impaired where they can be helped.
“We have approached people on the streets with blindness problems to come to our school in Ndola where we can empower them with different skills but it appears like they are ok being on the streets asking for handouts from passersby,” said Lion Zyambo.

Lions Club International which is celebrating 100 years of existence was formed in 1917 as a Non-governmental humanitarian organization.
It is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.35 million members in more than 46, 000 clubs and countless stories Lions acting on the same simple idea: lets improve our communities.
In Zambia, the first club was Lions Club of Kitwe which was seconded by the Lions club of Lusaka chattered on 4th December 1961.
Lions Clubs International has impacted the lives of millions all over the world. Through signature projects, the club has been able to help in the areas of sight, health, youth, the elderly, environmental protection and disaster relief in the more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the globe.

Chancellor Bob Corlew, from Milton, Tennessee, USA, was elected to serve as president of Lions Clubs International at the association’s 99 th International Convention held in Fukuoka, Japan, June 24 through 28, 2016.

President Corlew is retired as chancellor for the State of Tennessee and a professor of law. A member of the Murfreesboro Noon Lions Club since 1978, he has held many offices within the association, including charter club president, zone chairperson, district governor, cabinet secretary and council chairperson. He has been instrumental in the chartering of a number of new clubs. Most recently, he worked to charter a new club comprised of lawyers and judges, which gained more than 75 members during its first year. In recognition of his service to the association, he has received numerous awards, including the Leadership Award, the Builder Key Award, three International President’s Awards and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor the association bestows upon its members. He is also a Vanguard of the Melvin Jones Memorial, a Progressive Lindsey-Jennings Fellow a

nd a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow. In addition to his Lions activities, President Corlew has been active in the Boy Scouts of America, the Jaycees and the American Red Cross.

He has also served as a councilman in Milton and was a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve. President Corlew and his wife, Dianne, also a Lion and a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow, have five children and five grandchildren.