No fewer than 1,685 schoolchildren in some communities in Ikorodu, Lagos State, have benefited from a free eye check, diagnosis, treatment, and eyeglasses outreach by a non-governmental organisation, the Restore Foundation For Child Sight.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Dr. Halima Alimi, said the aim of the outreach was to prevent eye problems in children.
This, according to her, is because poor vision impairs learning ability, and may ultimately cause blindness.
Alimi said, “Our mission is to bring about maximum academic attainment for children through optimising their vision because, with good vision, children can excel academically.
“Unfortunately, many children don’t perform well academically, just because they are hampered by poor vision.
“Hence, this programme is to test their eyes to know their condition and to detect any developing problem for quick treatment.
“Those who need eye drops or glasses or surgery are provided with medications by the foundation, absolutely free, because we know they can’t afford the cost.
“This is our own way of helping underprivileged children break out of the cycle of poverty.”
Alimi also said the roughly two-year-old foundation holds a quarterly outreach, stressing that the first was held in Ebute-Metta East and West communities, including Makoko.
She emphasised that the riverine areas were the main target of the project because the population were underprivileged.
The eye specialist said, “My team, which comprises general ophthalmologists, paediatric ophthalmologists and others, have so far tested about 1,685 children.
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