Govt rolls out eye testing & spectacles initiative at Mahaicony, Enmore & Diamond

Thousands of children and elderly citizens have benefitted from Government’s eye testing and spectacles programme, which was rolled out by the Ministry of Health on Saturday.
The programme was hosted at the Dundee and Diamond Health Centres and at Enmore Hope Primary School.
Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony visited those locations and encouraged everyone to participate in the programme, while adding that over 2,000 persons had already benefitted from eye testing and some of those who were tested had received spectacles.
Dr Anthony also underscored that individuals diagnosed with cataracts during the screening would be added to a treatment list. “If we detect, apart from you needing glasses, that you have cataracts, then we will put you on a list and we will be able to do those surgeries for you,” he assured.
The programme, targeting individuals aged 18 and under and those 65 and older, offers a $2,000 voucher for eye screening and $15,000 to cover the cost of spectacles, if required.

The eye testing and spectacles programme aims to alleviate financial burdens associated with eye care, while enhancing access to vision correction services nationwide.
The initiative has been welcomed by many. In this regard, Mariah Ram, a parent, commended the Government for prioritising the nation’s children, and has urged other parents to take advantage of the opportunity.
“It is free of cost and it is good. I encourage everybody else to come out, because I came out and it wasn’t bad, and I am seeing progress with my son,” Ram told the Department of Public Information (DPI).
Another parent, Christina Hassan, said her two daughters faced academic challenges due to vision issues, and expressed her gratitude to the Government.
“It is very nice, because a lot of parents cannot afford to get their children’s eyes tested on their own with how everything in the economy going sky high. So, I think it is very good that the Government did this,” she said.
Renessa France, a mother of three, seized the opportunity to have all her children’s eyes tested after they complained of watery eyes and difficulty seeing the board in school.
“When I heard that the Government was doing this initiative, I brought them out to test their eyes, because is a free programme they are offering. If their eyes are bad, they (Govt) giving a little grant so that they can put towards the purchase of the eyeglasses. So, it is a good initiative,” France explained.
Another mother of three took the opportunity to test the eyes of all her kids after they had raised concerns about runny eyes and difficulty seeing the board in school.
Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal highlighted the significant impact the initiative would have on improving the lives of citizens.
This initiative is part of the PPP/C Government’s 2020-2025 manifesto commitment geared at enhancing the lives of citizens.