On Sunday, 5th February 2017, about 120 parishioners including their family members and neighbourhoods came to St. Joseph Church Community Hall for the “FREE EYE SCREENING TEST”.

This “Eye Screening Test” was organised by the SJC Women Ministry in collaboration with “Sayangi Mata Vision Screening Clinic” which is an NGO operating out of Sentul. This Vision Care project is part of the Disease Prevention and Treatment Initiative that is to be implemented throughout 17 schools in Sentul.

Our main objectives are to serve the underprivileged people (children, students, their parents and elderly) and to serve them by creating awareness of vision care and a spectacle bank for those in need.

A series of screenings have been conducted and will be conducted on patients who have been identified as having poor eyesight by Opticians.

Stage 1 – Basic eye screening – 5/2/2017.
Stage 2 – Reconfirming the 1st eye screening prognosis – 24/2/2017.
Stage 3 – Validation by Optician / Ophthalmologist – TBA.
Stage 4 – Final eye glass prescription – TBA.

Moving forward, we are starting a database to keep records of patients who will be screened at their respective screening centers. This database will eventually assist us in our follow-ups, yearly eye examinations and donating a spectacle if needed. We encourage parishioners to promote vision care for the underprivileged people.

Vision care is not just a healthcare issue; it’s an education issue. About 80% of our learning is through visual and it is said, “Children who see better, learn better.”

We wish to thank the BECCOT, PIHD team and all volunteers from our parish who came to help with the 1st stage screening.

Lourdsmary Arokiam,
SJC Women Ministry.