School Children Gets Free Reading Glasses In Osun

School children with refractive error in Osun State have been given free corrective glass as part of moves to curb blindness among the pupils.

 

At the flag-off of the exercise in Osogbo, the state capital, the children drawn from different schools underwent free eye screening and those with vision impairment were given a free corrective glass.

 

The programme was facilitated by a nonprofit organizations, Community Advancement Initiative for Self Reliance (CAI4SR) with the support of the Essilor-Social Impact Fund.

 

The Executive Director of CAI4SR, Mrs. Eni Ayeni said the objective of the programme was to ensure that children in schools do not go blind because of simple corrective glass.

 

Ayeni Said 50,000 children in the state would benefit from the free eye care to cater for their eye health and that 5,000 will get free eye glasses.

 

She said the programme was aimed at reducing uncorrected visual impairment as a result of refractive error among school children.

 

Ayeni said that the programme would cover 15 local government areas in the state and that only children from age 0 -16 would benefit.

 

“We are doing free eye screening and dispensing free corrective glasses to children. We have trained a lot of teachers, community health extension workers, and Optometrists on detection and prevention of child blindness in Osun”, Ayeni said.

 

The Chairman of the State University Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Israel Famurewa expressed gratitude to CAI4SR and Essilor for the gesture, saying that the state government appreciates the support towards ensuring that the children have a better vision and be able to study and achieve their full potential in life.

 

Represented by SUBEB Director of Socio Mobilization and Special Education, Mrs. Adeoye Oyebola Abidemi, Famurewa pledged full support for the programme.