Lions International president elect, Lion Dr Naresh Aggarwal, has awarded the prestigious and highest honour from Lions International to President James Michel.

This is for Mr Michel’s outstanding services to make Seychelles shine globally.

Lion Dr Naresh Aggarwal presented the award to President Michel when he called on him at State House last week.

Dr Aggarwal was here with a delegation from Lions International to kick start activities in preparation for the Lions International 100-year anniversary in 2017.

Dr Manoj Shah, a board appointee of the International Association of Lions Clubs, also formed part of the delegation.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela once said ‘it always seems impossible until it's done’ and the Lions Club of Seychelles has been making things happen in Seychelles and it has received praises from the Lions Club International.

During the Lions International delegation’s visit, two new bus shelters built adjacent to each other at the entrance of Ile Perseverance housing estate were officially inaugurated.

The project has been sponsored by Shreeji Construction PTY.LTD and Laxmi Trading, two companies managed by Lion Keshra V. Bhudia.

Mr Aggarwal unveiled a health billboard at the Victoria bus terminal in the presence of health minister Mitcy Larue, Lions Club International director for Africa Dr Manoj Shah, the president of Lions Club Seychelles Dr Valentina Seth, the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) chief executive Geffy Zialor, the chairperson of the ‘Health of Our Nation’ committee Patricia Rene, members of Lions Club of Seychelles, members of Leo Club of Seychelles, members of the ‘Health of Our Nation’ committee and Melvin Jones fellowship members.

Dr Aggarwal said we should all be aware of our health by promoting the theme that the Ministry of Health is using ‘My Health, My Responsibility. Begin at home’.

Lions Club International will now promote Seychelles, role model country in eco-tourism, as a tourist destination as part of its worldwide programme. It will also promote the Eden Bleu Hotel to its members as its preferred hotel in Seychelles, and also organise all its local conferences at the Roche Caïman hotel.

In return, Lions Club will benefit from a 15% discount from Eden Bleu on accommodation expenses for its visiting members.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalise the partnership was signed at the hotel between the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange and Eden Bleu general manager (GM) Karl Snater signed on the Seychelles’ side while board appointee and former international director Manoj Shah signed on behalf of Lions Club International.

The Ministry of Health also took the opportunity of the delegation’s visit to embark on a nationwide five-year Rotavirus vaccination programme aimed at curtailing what it has called the devastating effect of Rotavirus.

Through the project, the Rotavirus vaccine will be introduced into Seychelles’ Extended Programme of Immunisation (EPI), with the first administration scheduled for mid 2016.

The project is being implemented with the partnership of Lions Club International and Cable & Wireless.

The Lions Club International will also partner with the Ministry of Health in a kidney disease screening campaign.

The campaign, which will be sponsored by telecommunication company Airtel, will involve the testing of every Seychellois over the age of 40, especially those suffering from diabetes and hypertension, in order to permit early detection and prevent dependency on dialysis.

After the Lions Club Seychelles organised a free mass eye screening campaign in May this year, 103 pupils who had been detected with vision problems and poor eyesight received their glasses from Lions Clubs members.

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