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According to data published by WHO, more than 2.2 billion people have visual impairment or blindness, in many cases it could have been prevented or corrected. In Colombia, the prevalence of visual problems in the population under 15 years of age corresponds to 20% of this population.
The project seeks to carry out visual health screening of 2,500 students from educational institutions surrounding the Morichal neighborhood belonging to commune 4 of the municipality of Villavicencio, performing optometry examinations, diagnosis and visual corrections through the formulation and delivery of glasses to those students who require using them. It is estimated that approximately 500 students will receive the glasses. Conduct an awareness campaign on the importance of preventive and regular examinations.
Acquire optometry equipment that allows the examination to be carried out on students and that allows this project to be sustainable over time.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: (15 lines maximum)
Considering that a percentage of the student population of the El Morichal neighborhood and its surroundings between the ages of 5 and 16 could present some alterations in visual health and/or refractive defects (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism) as the most common, this project aims to carry out the visual screening that allows us to have a diagnosis and thus provide glasses and ophthalmic lenses with a prescription to each student who requires them. It is important to keep in mind that myopia prevails over all visual defects, since at this time the use of screens and electronic media make this a primary defect presented by 70% of the student community and therefore it is essential to carry out this visual correction on time.
To carry out this project, an optometry professional, an optometry assistant, the acquisition of the following equipment are required: optotypes, test frame, test box and diagnostic case, frames and ophthalmic lenses with a prescription. Our partner in this project will be Villavicencio Departmental Hospital, which will be in charge of the custody of the acquired equipment and will be the institution that ensures the continuity of the project and allows its use and maintenance, which will guarantee the sustainability of the project over time.
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT NEEDS YOU IDENTIFIED? HOW WILL THE PROJECT ADDRESS THESE NEEDS? WHO WILL BENEFICIARY OF THIS PROJECT? MENTION AN ESTIMATED NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES. (15 lines maximum)
It is estimated that 20% of the school population of the educational institutions surrounding the Morichal neighborhood belonging to commune 4 of the municipality of Villavicencio have some type of visual health alteration, a situation that directly impacts the knowledge apprehension and academic development of the students.
The beneficiaries of the project are students from educational institutions near the Morichal neighborhood belonging to commune 4 of the municipality of Villavicencio. The estimated number of beneficiaries is a population of 2,500 students and the estimated number for correction is 500 students. In addition, this project provides an opportunity to talk about eye health in other environments, such as families with Diabetes.
SUSTAINABILITY: (explain how the project will continue to operate once the financial contribution received for this project is finished)
The project will continue to operate once the financial contribution received through alliances with opticians and optometry professionals who provide both human and in-kind resources and a minimum contribution from the parents of each student is finished.
In addition, the equipment acquired in this project will be available for use in the screening days that will continue to be carried out in schools and at the Morichal center in order to improve the visual health of students from more institutions and to carry out, within 8 months to a year, the control of those students who will receive their glasses for the first time.
IS THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED? DESCRIBE THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND CONTINUITY OF THE PROJECT.
Yes, the community is involved. Through this project, parents are creating a culture that their children need to be evaluated by optometry at least once a year in order to improve their quality of life and especially their academic performance.
The role of the community is to become active actors as parents, seeking the visual well-being of their children and contributing financially, in time and awareness to continue to improve the exams year after year, and to participate in the continuous improvement of the children.
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