by Renzo Acosta and Nicole Dabu
Sen. Pia Cayetano, in collaboration with Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI), proposed an act establishing a National Vision Screening Program (NVSP) for kindergarten pupils.
In a committee meeting held last Sept. 24, representatives from PERI, Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology (PAO), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) discussed the bill.
In a committee meeting held last Sept. 24, representatives from PERI, Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology (PAO), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) discussed the bill.
Dr. Leo Cubillan, Director of PERI, said that, “4 out of 40 students in a classroom cannot see clearly. Four would not be able to pass the test, three would wear prescription eyeglasses, and one would have ‘lazy eye.’”
Of the 15,000 schools in the country which have approximately 2 million students, there are at least 50,000 students who have amblyopia, about 2.5% of the total student population.
With the bill, Sen. Cayetano and PERI hope to lessen the cases of blindness caused by amblyopia, or lazy eye, which is an impairment of the vision in one eye that cannot be corrected by prescription glasses, and is an avoidable cause of blindness.
“This has to be cured before they reach 9 years old, as it is hard to cure when they get older,” Cubillan said.
Sen. Cayetano said she invited PERI and PAO because they are institutions specializing in eye research, and therefore capable of presenting studies regarding amblyopia that can back the bill, and show the need for an NSVP.
Included in the bill is the establishment of an NSVP, intended to screen the eye vision of kindergarten pupils and identify early childhood visual problems. The NSVP is to be implemented by DepEd, in coordination with DOH and PERI.
PERI is also responsible for the training of Vision Screening Trainers, which is composed of teachers, and together with DOH, is to conduct research and provide evidence-based recommendations to the DepEd on matters pertaining to the NVSP.
After the diagnosis conducted by PERI, DepEd, and DOH, PhilHealth is asked to come up with a benefit package for the consultation and treatment of eye diseases of children.
Sen. Cayetano said that the act can be approved within six weeks. The Millennial Post
Of the 15,000 schools in the country which have approximately 2 million students, there are at least 50,000 students who have amblyopia, about 2.5% of the total student population.
With the bill, Sen. Cayetano and PERI hope to lessen the cases of blindness caused by amblyopia, or lazy eye, which is an impairment of the vision in one eye that cannot be corrected by prescription glasses, and is an avoidable cause of blindness.
“This has to be cured before they reach 9 years old, as it is hard to cure when they get older,” Cubillan said.
Sen. Cayetano said she invited PERI and PAO because they are institutions specializing in eye research, and therefore capable of presenting studies regarding amblyopia that can back the bill, and show the need for an NSVP.
Included in the bill is the establishment of an NSVP, intended to screen the eye vision of kindergarten pupils and identify early childhood visual problems. The NSVP is to be implemented by DepEd, in coordination with DOH and PERI.
PERI is also responsible for the training of Vision Screening Trainers, which is composed of teachers, and together with DOH, is to conduct research and provide evidence-based recommendations to the DepEd on matters pertaining to the NVSP.
After the diagnosis conducted by PERI, DepEd, and DOH, PhilHealth is asked to come up with a benefit package for the consultation and treatment of eye diseases of children.
Sen. Cayetano said that the act can be approved within six weeks. The Millennial Post