Vision screening for 11,000 underprivileged school children in Aurangabad and Navsari by IVI
India Vision Institute (IVI) as part of its Eye See & I learn campaign will screen the vision of 11000 children from disadvantaged communities in Aurangabad, Maharashtra & Navsari, Gujarat. The project is supported by the Australian Government’s Direct Aid Program (DAP) through the Australian Consulate General in Mumbai. It will help children from 18 schools* across these two cities. Those identified with refractive errors will be provided with free spectacles.
Mr Mark Pierce, Australian Consul-General for Western India based at Mumbai, launched the program at Baliram Patil Vidyalaya, Aurangabad on 26 February, 2016. “We are privileged and proud to support this project, which will help 11000 children to undergo vision screening and assist those who require further help to get the appropriate treatment”, said Mr. Pierce during the launch.
Eye See & I learn campaign of IVI is part of the global ‘Our Children’s Vision’ campaign led by IVI in India and aims to screen the vision of ten million children in partnership with several eye hospitals over the period 2016-2020. Students identified with refractive errors through the screening programs in Aurangabad & Navsari will receive free spectacles and those requiring comprehensive eye examinations will be referred to Mundada ENT & Eye Care Centre, Aurangabad & Rotary Eye Institute, Navsari respectively for treatment.
“Academic performance of school children is directly related to good vision. Many visual problems go undetected during childhood and this significantly affects the future of these children. Detection of problems at an early stage helps in proper management”, said Mr Vinod Daniel, CEO of IVI. “I welcome the continuing support of the Australian Consulate for our initiatives’, he added.
IVI’s Eye See & I learn campaign is also supported by the Australian Consulate General, Chennai for vision screening of school children in the South Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.
India Vision Institute (IVI) is an independent, not-for-profit registered trust established in 2011, an initiative of the L V Prasad Eye Institute of Hyderabad and the Brien Holden Vision Institute, Sydney. It is focused on supporting and promoting awareness, research, education and technological development in Indian optometry to advance capacity in vision correction and prevention of eye disease and blindness.
