Dhaka: 21st March 2018: Comprehensive eye care services were provided to the underserved students of Program for Sustainable Development’s (PSD) two Schools located at Nondipara, Basabo and Moghbazar by the Eye Care Project of Manabik Shahajya Sangstha (ECP-MSS) under its School Sight Testing Program (SSTP) during two day-long program on Tuesday and Wednesday, 20 and 21 March, 2018.
The SSTP aims to identify short sight and other eye diseases among the disadvantaged children; provide spectacles, medicines and referral services to the identified student-patients, provide appropriate treatment and build awareness on basic eye care among students and teachers.
“Around, 40,000 children are blind in Bangladesh of which over 12,000 children, mostly disadvantaged, are suffering from blindness due to un-operated cataract. The ECP-MSS is determined to reach out to those children and restore their eye sight” said Feroz M. Hassan, MSS President.
Under the program ECP-MSS eye care team comprising qualified eye specialists and technicians with appropriate eye testing equipment examined 372 students and provided 13 eye drops and 11 custom made eye glasses per requirement of the screened students free of cost.
Under the SSTP, a total of 1714 students were screened from eight underprivileged schools and gave away a total of 89 eye glasses and 60 medicines. Five students with serious eye problems have been referred for further treatment.
Prior to the eye screening the ECP team conducted 14 awareness classes through interactive presentations using basic eye care awareness flyers, posters and placard. The students were urged to share the eye care information with their family and friends. As part of the awareness campaign flyers, posters and placards were distributed.
ECP-MSS is working to eliminate preventable blindness in Bangladesh. ECP believes that nobody should remain blind due to poverty.
