'Vision proof´ mandatory for school-goers

Added At:  2011-03-27 11:14 PM

 Last Updated At: 2011-03-27 11:14 PM

KATHMANDU: Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS) in coordination with the Ministry of Education is formulating mandatory ‘vision certificates’ for school admission.

Hukum Pokhrel, programme coordinator at NNJS, stated they are introducing the initiative to prevent 80 per cent of avoidable blindness among kids and to meet the target set by World Health Organisation.

According to NNJS, the leading cause of blindness is cataract followed by glaucoma, blindness due to longevity, deficiency of Vitamin A in kids and pregnant women, corneal scarring and injuries. There are 21 eye hospitals in the country.

Pokhrel stated they are expanding the programme to private and government schools in remote areas in the first phase. At present, NNJS is active in 63 districts with financial assistance of Orbis International, an INGO. NNJS has provided cataract surgery to around 15,000 patients, trachoma cure to 1,000 and distributed spectacles to 9,300 school children.

At present, the country is targetting to eliminate avoidable blindness by 2020 as set by WHO. As per WHO target, the country has to reduce prevalence of blindness by 0.2 per cent, with 90 per cent surgical coverage, service availability, service utilisation and service accessibility.

The recent survey by NNJS-2010 showed that more than 50 per cent of kids in urban areas are unaware of their vision impairments. The condition is more acute in remote areas due to lack of awareness and service facilities.

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More source:

Healthy Schools
Thornridge High School
Challenges and Failures of Vision Screenings - Unite For Sight
Reading and Vision - Children's Vision

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Submited at Sunday, March 27th, 2011 at 9:00 pm on Uncategorized by Alina
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