Lions club helps mother take girl for surgery overseas |25 April 2009

The Lions Club of Paradise Seychelles gave the money on Thursday to the Bonte family so daughter Nissa can travel to India for an operation to correct a spinal cord problem that needs immediate attention.

Nissa was diagnosed with the problem last month and is to travel to a hospital in Chennai on Monday after the local health authority judged her condition to be critical and threatening to make her permanently disabled.

The Health Services Agency pays for patients’ travel in such cases, but all those who accompany them have to make their own arrangements.

Nissa’s father, Danny, said that as soon as they learned this they approached a member of the Lions who lives in their community at Moosa Lane, Hangard Street, for financial help so at least one of them could go with her.

The money was handed over to Mr Bonte and his wife Edna by club president Narasimhan Ramani in a ceremony at his audit office in Orion Mall. Also present were Nissa’s baby sister Kerryanne and Lions club members.

Mr Bonte said they are grateful to the Lions for responding positively to their call and for sponsoring part of the fund needed for Mrs Bonte to travel with Nissa.

He said the Lions’ response is a true example of how community cooperation can go a long way in supporting those in need.