EYE CHECKUP: OSHIA TO PROVIDE CORRECTIVE SPECTACLES, MEDICATIONS FOR 345,000 PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS

EYE CHECKUP: OSHIA TO PROVIDE CORRECTIVE SPECTACLES, MEDICATIONS FOR 345,000 PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS.

BY OPEYEMI AKINYEMI 

OSOGBO, OSUN STATE 

Osun State Government has embarked on comprehensive eye checkup for 345,000 (three thousand and forty-five thousand) pupils in public primary and secondary schools students across the state.

This was disclosed at a press conference held in osogbo, Osun State capital addressed by the Executive Secretary of the Osun Health Insurance Agency, OSHIA, Dr. Rasaq Akindele to herald the commencement training of school teachers and screening slated for thursday 20th of February this year.

While speaking on the initiative tagged'' Imole School Eye Health" the Executive Secretary said the excercise with the support of ministry of education will critically examine those with refractive errors and provided with corrective spectacle, medications and surgical intervention.

He hinted that efforts are ongoing on school based screening of the pupils using Visual Acquity Chat which will commence on the 24th to 26th  of February as well as reflection and provision of glasses, corrective surgeries will commence February 27th till March 7th this year.

"The concept of Imole School Health is born out of the fact that not all students who are not performing optimally academically are really intellectually poor. Quite a good number of them have challenges with their visions which make them not to be able to see what the teacher writes on the board or even demonstrates in front of the class. A lot of them strain and squeeze their eyes, but yet they would not be able to see well, the result of which is poor academic performance. Many of these students and their parents don't realise that visual challenges are the basis of poor academic outcome".

"The training of the school teachers who will carry out the screening will commence on Thursday 20th February, 2025 Thereafter there will be school based screening of the pupils using Visual Acquity Chat will commence on the 24th to 26th February. From 27th February to 7th March, refraction and provision of glasses, provision of drugs, and corrective surgeries will be carried out. Also, His Excellency, Senator Dr Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, shall also be personally presenting these glasses to the deserving students during this period". Dr Rasaq said.

"We want to implore the parents and guidance to please avail their children and wards this rare opportunity of the Imole School Eye Health. Such has never been done before and it will take another visionary Leader to do it again. We also appeal to all Personnel involved in the exercise, our loving teachers, OSHIA staff, and the medical experts to see this as call to serve humanity, the reward of which is tremendous in this world and the hereafter" Dr Rasaq said.

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