BUDGAM, SEPTEMBER 11: The District Administration Budgam Friday started the training programmes for school-level screening facilitators as part of the district-wide Children’s Eye Health Programme in partnership with Health Department, Education and Nayonika Eye care.
The programme, as per an official statement, aims to equip screening facilitators with the necessary skills to conduct preliminary eye screening of students at the school level, enabling early identification and timely referral of children with vision-related problems. Under the program basic screening is being done in schools to identify kids with difficulties in eye sight. And then detailed tests and daignosis at Sub District Hospitals and District Hospital.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, emphasised the crucial role of school-level screeners in early identification of health and learning-related difficulties among children.
Asserting on screening of all school children, the Deputy Commissioner said that the timely detection of vision problems can significantly improve children’s participation in classroom learning and educational activities.
Launched in collaboration with Nayonika Eye Care Charitable Trust and Help Foundation J&K, the initiative envisages screening around 1.67 lakh students across 917 schools in the district.
During the training, teachers were sensitised on the correct use of the Snellen Eye Chart, screening procedures, recording of observations and referral of students requiring further assessment to Sub District and District Hospitals.
Students identified with suspected vision problems will be referred to concerned District and Sub-District hospitals for rescreening and detailed examination. Those requiring spectacles will be provided eyeglasses free of cost, while cases requiring specialised or surgical treatment will be facilitated at GMCs and other tertiary-care eye hospitals.
The programme was attended by ADDC Budgam Vivek Agarwal, CMO, CEO, ZEOs and School wise screening facilitators, and representatives from Nayonika eye care and other collaborating organisations.
