Mechi Eye Hospital, with financial support from the Eye Care Foundation, Netherlands, conducted a comprehensive School Screening Program from June to December 2024. This initiative aimed to identify and address visual impairments among students in three districts: Jhapa, Ilam, and Morang. Below is an overview of the program’s achievements:
Program Highlights
- Financial Support: Eye Care Foundation, Netherlands
- Duration: June to December 2024
- Schools Covered: 98 schools
- Students Examined: 32,899 students
- Districts Covered: 3 (Jhapa, Ilam, Morang)
- Palikas Covered:
- Birtamode Municipality
- Mechinagar Municipality
- Shivasatashi Municipality
- Kankai Municipality
- Damak Municipality
- Bhadrapur Municipality
- Chulachuli Rural Municipality
- Arjundhara Municipality
- Jhapa Rural Municipality
- Miklajung Rural Municipality
Key Achievements
- Spectacles Prescribed and Provided for Free: 1,254 pairs
- Referrals to Mechi Eye Hospital: 914 cases
- Referrals Visited to Mechi Eye Hospital: 415 cases
- Surgeries Performed Through Referrals:
- Cataract: 5 cases
- Squint: 3 cases
- Ptosis: 1 case
- Syringing+Probing: 1 case
Teacher and Health Nurse Orientation
To enhance awareness and ensure sustainability of the initiative, Mechi Eye Hospital also conducted orientations for:
- Teachers: 150 teachers
- School Health Nurses: 29 nurses
Impactful Outcomes
This program has significantly contributed to early detection and treatment of vision-related issues among school children. By providing free spectacles and facilitating essential surgeries, the program has improved the quality of life for many students. The orientation sessions have further empowered teachers and school health nurses to identify and refer cases effectively in the future.
