Focus on children's eye care

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Health Ministry has focused attention on the increasing incidents of visual defects witnessed among schoolchildren in the country. Of the 4.3 million schoolchildren in the country, nearly 170,000 are suffering from various problems.

"This is a national problem in a country like ours and it is the duty of everybody to help rescue our younger generation from this most serious impairment," Deputy Director General (Public Health) Dr. Palitha Maheepala told the Sunday Observer.

He said parents must take timely action to cure eye diseases of their children. Ignoring even minor eye problems could lead to major problems.

Quoting latest regional health statistics, Dr. Maheepala said four percent of schoolchildren in the country suffer from various eye defects.

Dr. Maheepala also warned schoolchildren to be more concerned about visual problems. He said it is the duty of all, especially their parents, to identify such diseases during the early stages and take precautionary measures to treat them.

He said although it is not easy to determine the cause of eye problems in children, statistics have revealed that malnutrition could be a major cause of eye defects.

Recalling the Government initiated `Vision-2020' program, Dr. Maheepala said it plans to provide upgraded eye care facilities countrywide. "Under this program, over 7,000 spectacles are being distributed among schoolchildren in Colombo and Kandy districts; 4,000 spectacles have already been given to needy children in schools in the Ampara district," he said.

Dr. Maheepala thanked the Standard Charted Bank for its assistance given to this program for five years and urged other donors to make contributions to make this program a success.He said the Health Ministry often conducts eye camps in schools and provides treatment and spectacles to children free of charge.Dr. Maheepala said the Ministry's next aim is to expand the program to Kalutara, Badulla and Gampaha districts within the next few months.

He said similar eye camp programs will soon be launched in Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts to cater to thousands of schoolchildren who were unable to benefit from this program over the past years.