2 hrs ago
Bengal Schools Begin Vision Screenings for 10,000 Children
A new programme will check the eyesight of 10,000 schoolchildren in Bengal.
It began at a school in Howrah.
Many children there struggle to see the blackboard, but their families cannot easily pay for eye check-ups.
The programme will give glasses to children who need them.
It will also help support surgery when doctors find serious problems.
Organisers say seeing poorly can make schoolwork harder.
Teachers will learn how to notice signs that a child may have trouble seeing.
The programme will run for four months, and a later programme is planned for Madhya Pradesh.
Project Rise and CBM India Trust will screen 10,000 children across Bengal over four months.
Three hundred children were screened at a Howrah school, with 1,200 more scheduled for screening in the following days.
Children needing glasses will receive them, while some diagnosed conditions may qualify for surgery support.
Organisers said uncorrected vision problems can hinder learning, reduce confidence and contribute to school dropout.
Teachers will be trained to identify classroom signs of possible vision difficulties, while the next programme is planned for Madhya Pradesh.
- Who
- Project Rise, the Dawoodi Bohra community’s philanthropic initiative, and CBM India Trust are organising the programme for schoolchildren.
- What
- A four-month school eye-health programme will screen 10,000 children and provide glasses or support for necessary surgeries.
- Where
- Screenings began at a school in Howrah, following the programme’s inauguration at Burhani Complex on Topsia Road; screenings will take place across Bengal.
- When
- The programme began on Wednesday and will continue for four months.
- Why
- The initiative aims to identify and treat vision problems early so they do not interfere with children’s education.
Key facts
- Children targeted
- 10,000 children from pre-school through Class XII
- Programme duration
- Four months
- Initial screening
- 300 children were screened at a Howrah school
- Additional students
- 1,200 students were scheduled to be checked over the next few days
- Support offered
- Glasses and support for surgeries when further investigation is required
- Partners
- Project Rise and CBM India Trust
- Next location
- Madhya Pradesh
Quotes
Mohtasheem Sulaiman
Principal of Sir Syed Ahmed High School in Howrah
“A child should not fall behind in school because a treatable vision problem has gone unnoticed. Through this partnership we hope children who need eye care are identified early and receive the support and treatment they need.”
telegraphindia.com
“When I go on rounds, I see many children struggling to read the blackboard. If we can screen, identify and address the problem at the root instead of just the symptom, a more serious condition may be prevented.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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