Vision 2020 programme:

Move to reduce eye disease by 2020

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Health Ministry is perpurturbed over the increase in vision problems of the younger generation in the country following a recent survey which reveals that over 400,000 schoolchildren countrywide are suffering from various eye diseases.

Accordingly, the Vision - 2020 programme which was launched by the Health Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to help 4.3 million schoolchildren in the country will be strengthened to help children to undergo regular eye testing programmes.The Health Ministry's recent statistics also reveal that nearly 160,000 schoolchildren are totally and partially blind and another 400,000 are suffering from various eye diseases such as cataract and also glaucoma, which is caused by diabeties.

Speaking to The Junior Observer, Health Minister Maithreepala Sirisena highlighted the importance of launching the Vision - 2020 programme and said the objective of the programme was to minimise various eye diseases by the year 2020.

He said this programme will immensely benefit a large number of children in rural and remote schools, since they will be provided medicine as well as pairs of spectacles free.

Referring to a recent spectacle distribution programme held in Colombo under the patronage of the First Lady, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Minister Sirisena said 500 spectacles were distributed among needy school children with the assistance of the Health Ministry's Vision Secretariat, the Sight Savers International and the Standard Chartered Bank.
 

'Rhythm of the strokes' by child artist
 

Today is the final day of child artist Pulasthi Liyanage's solo exhibition 'Rhythm of the strokes' which commenced at the Alliance Francaise de Kandy auditorium on May 14. Pulasthi who is a 15-year-old student of Trinity College, Kandy is a talented artist and has won many awards; first place at the Vesak art competition organised by the Swarnavahini TV Channel in 2006 and 2007, first place at the Nature Club / Science Society 2005, Trinity College and the Trinity College art prize in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 among many others.

[ News briefs]

* Following the increase in the number of deaths due to lightning this year, the Meteorological Department warns the public to be cautious.

About 18 people have died since March 1, this year. The South West Monsoon season is from May to September and usually during monsoon periods there is heavy lightning.

* Global Warming is one of the main reasons for the increase in the number of dengue, malaria and filaria cases in the country, says a climatologist.

Increased evaporation has led to more rain thus providing more breeding grounds for these disease carrying mosquitoes, said former Vice Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardenepura University Dr. Senevi Epitawatte recently.

* Climate change seems to have had an impact on the historic pink quartz deposit at Namal Uyana too.

The Viharadhipathi Ven. Vanavasi Rahula Thera recently said that parts of the historic pink quartz are getting discoloured and urged the geological experts to look into this matter urgently.