North Bay Lions Club’s Vision Improving Eye Care

Posted on July 31st, 2020

The North Bay Lions Club is leading the way, supporting the ophthalmology care needs of patients in northern Ontario. Their generous donation of $10,000 will help patients with cataracts and other vision concerns receive care close to home.

“With this donation we will be able to purchase an urgently needed Cataract Set/Tray, which costs $40,000. With additional trays, the hospital will have the capacity to treat and provide follow up care for more patients in North Bay, close to home,” shared Paul Heinrich, President and CEO, NBRHC. “As our population ages, many more of our community members will require ophthalmic care at some point in their lives, including cataract surgery,” he added.

“Equipping our hospital with the state-of-the-art instruments to stay current in the rapidly advancing surgical field, ensures we can continue to recruit new specialists to the region,” shared Dr. Kenneth Kesty, who is soon to retire along with Dr. Cynthia Bullen. They have tirelessly served our community for more than 44 years. “I know Dr. Vanessa Ellies, our newly recruited Ophthalmologist, and Dr. Niranjan Vijay will appreciate the impact the North Bay Lions Club has on care, now and for the years to come, as Dr. Bullen and I have witnessed over the course of our careers,” he added.

“This is a quality of life procedure as vision is such an important part of our lives and our independence is reliant on it – driving and shopping, watching our children and grandchildren grow, witnessing our hard work come to fruition as our gardens begin to bloom,” shared Lions President, Wendy Porter. “Our hospital and vision care has always been one of our Club’s top priorities,” she added.

Last year, 2,540 patients were seen at North Bay Regional Health Centre’s Ophthalmology Clinic and Ophthalmology Operating Room. The average age of these patients is 70 years old. The Lions Club of North Bay’s generous donation will help improve the quality of life for so many patients throughout northern Ontario.

“We are grateful for the close relationship we share with the North Bay Lions Club. For more than 20 years, they have championed the healthcare needs of our community with ophthalmology and vision care being one of the areas they are most passionate about. Our community is grateful for their leadership and generosity,” says Tammy Morison, President and CEO, NBRHC Foundation.

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Small group: Tammy Morison, President & CEO, NBRHC Foundation; Wendy Porter, President, North Bay Lions Club; Paul Heinrich, President & CEO, NBRHC; Vicky Paine-Mantha, Vice Chair, NBRHC Foundation Board

Ophthalmologists