Lions Clubs International Honors Dr. Helena Ndume with Humanitarian Award

OAK BROOK, Ill., Feb. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For her dedication to humanitarian service and medical contributions to the world, Dr. Helena Ndume, Chief of Ophthalmology at Windhoek Central Hospital in Namibia, and partner with SEE International, will be presented with the 2022 Lions Humanitarian Award during the 104th Lions Clubs International Convention on June 28, 2022. 

Forced to flee her homeland in the Oshikoto region of Namibia at 15, Helena lived in the South West Africa People's Organization's (SWAPO) liberation camps in Zambia and Angola. The organization sent her to The Gambia in West Africa, where she completed secondary school. Motivated to serve those less fortunate due to the civil unrest that she witnessed as a child, SWAPO further supported her to attend medical school in Germany to help those in need. In 1995, Dr. Helena Ndume met with the founder of SEE International, and together they worked toward reversing preventable blindness in Namibia.

Since then, Dr. Ndume has dedicated her life and career to treating blindness and low-vision, both in Namibia and throughout the developing world. Dr. Ndume has performed more than 35,000 eye surgeries free of charge in her home country of Namibia, Angola, and around the world.

"For so many people, living with preventable blindness makes all the difference in whether or not they survive or starve," said Dr. Ndume. 

The Lions Humanitarian Award, the association's highest honor, is given to an individual or an organization with exemplary humanitarian efforts and comes with a Lions Clubs International Foundation grant for up to US$250,000 to a charitable organization for continuing humanitarian activities. Dr. Ndume joins a distinguished list of prior recipients, including Mother Teresa, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege.

"We are truly honored to present this award to Dr. Ndume, whose work is changing lives and making a profound impact on the world," said Lions Clubs International President Douglas X. Alexander. "Ever since Helen Keller challenged Lions to help preserve the precious gift of sight in 1925, Lions' work continues in preventing avoidable blindness and improving the quality of life for people who are blind or visually impaired."  

Dr. Ndume continues to partner with SEE International, whose network of volunteers consists of more than 650 ophthalmologists and medical professionals from 80 different countries. She principally treats cataracts, glaucoma, and allergic conjunctivitis - restoring sight to thousands of individuals who would otherwise face enduring pain and hardship due to their condition. Dr. Ndume's relentless drive, unyielding commitment, and inclusive vision make her an outstanding nominee and true hero. 

"I am truly honored to receive the Lions Humanitarian Award," said Dr. Ndume. "My biggest goal in life is to end preventable blindness and to build a team of committed young people that will continue to fight against it, so even when I am not here, they will carry on that mission."

Learn more about the Lions Humanitarian Award and see our list of winners at https://www.lionsclubs.org/humanitarian-winners. 

About Lions Clubs International

Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. More than 1.4 million members in over 48,000 clubs are serving in 200 countries and geographic areas around the globe. Since 1917, Lions have strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects, and we extend our service impact through the generous support of our Lions Clubs International Foundation. We are focused on supporting vision, the environment, childhood cancer, hunger, diabetes and other pressing humanitarian needs to help address some of the biggest challenges facing humanity. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit lionsclubs.org.

SOURCE Lions International