DAVAO ORIENTAL– Thirty five children with low vision have received free eyeglasses and undergone free eye checkup on Monday, February 17, at the Provincial Health Office (PHO).

Dubbed as a “sight-saving” activity, eye specialists from the Mabuhay Deseret Foundation and the Resources for the Blind, Incorporated from Manila performed eye screening to the children from different schools in the province.  

Provincial Health Officer II, Dr. Herminigilda Nartatez, said that the activity is part of the Eye Health Program of the PHO which, among others, provides free cataract surgery every Thursday.

Monday’s activity was held in collaboration with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) City of Mati Division which identified the students with low vision.

Dr. Nartatez said that the activity, which includes provision of eyeglasses right after the eye examination, was done for the first time through the Memorandum of Agreement between the PHO and the DepEd.

Division Nurse Fritzie Aparra of the the DepEd – City of Mati Division said they are thankful to the PHO for hosting such event as it helps to prevent blindness among school children.  

She said the program is also one of the strategies implemented under the umbrella of Oplan Kalusugan of DepEd because vision is a huge factor in the learning performance of children. “If the child’s eye condition remains unassessed, it will affect the child’s learning performance in school which will lead to absenteeism and eventually to dropping out. So we are very thankful to the PHO and to the visiting specialists,” she said.

As Dr. Nartatez hopes to conduct more free eye checkup and free eyeglasses distribution, Aparra said they will coordinate with the barangays next time to also include out-of-school youth to the charitable event. By Riza M. Golez