Eyesight screening programme at Berhampur

The programme, aimed at providing free treatment to school children with low vision by holding camps in block level after primary screening of their eyes, is undertaken jointly by Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan (SSA), District Red Cross Society and District Blindness Control Society (DBCS).

The first block-level camp was inaugurated by Ganjam district Collector Krishan Kumar in the presence of several distinguished persons including MLAs on Monday at Chhatrapur where eyes of 350 students were tested at the camp, said a senior official.

The year-long programme, first of its kind in the state, is estimated to cost around Rs 50 lakh, he said. A Berhampur-based eye hospital is providing training to the school teachers to screen out the students with low vision, he said.

Recently, around 60 persons, mostly teachers of four out of 22 blocks in the district have been trained for the programme by eye specialists. The children with low vision will be screened at schools for treatment.

Collector Kumar said a dedicated mobile unit, equipped with sophisticated equipment and eye experts and paramedical staff are to hold the camps in different places of the districts to treat the children.

At least five camps will be held in each block and the first camp was held at Chhatrapur on Monday.