MOH targets eye problems in schools
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday July 26, 2022 06:00
This is to improve the quality of learning, which is sometimes affected by undetected eye problems.
According to a press release from the chief public relations officer Christopher Nyanga, the ministry would be conducting the screening, using Peek Vision technology, which will allow identification of any eye health conditions and challenges that the children may be facing.
“The main aim of this exercise, which will run for a period of three years (from 2022 to 2025), is to help improve not just the quality of life of school-going children, but also their educational performance, which has been seen to be affected by the children’s eye health situation, amongst others.
Most common eye health conditions that have also been found among school-going children include refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, and others that contribute to increased visual impairment and blindness for the children,” he stated.
Nyanga explained that through that initiative, many children’s eyesight would either be saved or restored. He added that those requiring treatment would be treated, while those requiring eyeglasses would be facilitated to get the glasses. He said the national project, as recently announced by President Mokgweetsi Masisi, would commence in the Kweneng District Health Management Team (DHMT) and would proceed to the rest of the DHMTs thereafter.
He explained that all public schools in the ministry’s 18 DHMTs would be covered in the three-year project period, with six DHMTs being covered per year. Other DHMTs that would be covered this financial year include Kgalagadi South, Kgalagadi North, Kgatleng, Chobe, and North East. He further encouraged all parents to embrace the initiative and facilitate for their children to fully participate.