Goodwood Merriman Lions Vision Project “We Care for Children” has ended on a spectacular note, says Clive Fox, former president of the club.
This programme was aimed at young learners in non-fee-paying schools.
The Lions have screened 9 762 primary school children from 15 selected primary schools.
Of these 1 004 needed further optometrist testing at the Lions Community Centre in Goodwood in late June (to link with Youth Day). Transported by Lions or donor-funded buses the children received treats, refreshments and giveaways on their special day.
Of those given the final eye examination just over 400 needed spectacles. Each child was able to choose their frames from a broad selection, the lenses were prescribed and the details were sent off for fitting.
The finished spectacles, packed in their cases, were then supplied to the learners at their respective schools.
Fox explains that such a mammoth undertaking is impossible without generous donors of the frames and lenses and the multiple optometrists’ involvement to do the final tests, transport and goodies for the children. Supported by club members and young volunteers the day was a great success and demonstrated how easy it is to make a difference in someone’s life.
Handheld screener
The individual vision screening is essentially handled by one Lions club member using a computerised handheld screener which scans a child’s eyes from some distance away and records the details of any suspected abnormalities. The results are checked by an optometrist who then decides whether or not the child needs further help.
“This wonderful invention created a lot of interest amongst teachers and we already have a few who know how to scan,” Fox adds.
To complete this important health project the Lions also offered Diabetes Education and testing for just under 5 000 learners.
Jamie Conway, president of the Goodwood Merriman Lions club, said it has been an incredibly rewarding and heartwarming journey so far.
“The next step for us is doing an internationally funded project with Lions Brightsight. Next year we will continue with the main vision screening project as we have done for the past two years.”
Conway says thousands of learners have never had their vision screened and we are trying to reach as many as possible.
