Under Vision 2020 program:

Free spectacles for schoolchildren

Nadira Gunatilleke

A Health Ministry study says that around 160,000 schoolchildren suffer from some sort of eye defect. Another 400,000 schoolchildren have the chance of developing an eye defect. The Health Ministry launched Vision 2020 program to save the eyesight of schoolchildren,a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman the Health Ministry has already donated spectacles to over 15,000 schoolchildren in the Colombo district under Vision 2020 program implemented through Vision 2020 Secretariat.

Eye clinics are conducted once in every six months for schoolchildren by the Ministry to detect any changes in eyesight. Spectacles are provided free of charge.

Recently another 500 spectacles were distributed among schoolchildren in the Colombo district. The spectacles were given free of charge.

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena participated in the ceremony. A workshop set up at Colombo National Eye Hospital to manufacture spectacles free of charge for adults.