34,476 students eye screen, get treatment
Pono Yame Project has screened a total of 34,476 students for eye health and treatment amongst school going children from primary to secondary schools countrywide.
Pono Yame Project aims at testing school children for eye problems and help identify them. Recently, the Ministry of Health (MoH) launched the Pono Yame Project, which is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. So far they have screened students in 63 schools.
According to Ministry of Health spokesperson, Dr Christopher Nyanga the aim of the project is to identify children with eye conditions such as refractive errors using the PEEK technology. “The most common eye diseases detected during this screening process are Vernal Conjunctivitis and Allergic Conjunctivitis. Of the school children who were found to have some eye conditions, 46 of them were found to require spectacles and have so far been provided with such. Both Vernal and Allergic Conjunctivitis are
It is estimated that about 1.4 million children worldwide live
with vision impairment
eye conditions that affect eye health and sight. They cause discomfort and affect the quality of life of those affected,” Nyanga said. He said the ministry advises all those experiencing some unusual discomfort in their eyes to visit the nearest health facility for screening and assessment.
Botswana joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Sight Day on October 10, 2022 in Kopong under the theme, “Love Your Eyes.” The day was dedicated to drawing global attention towards issues of eye health and the prevention of vision impairment amongst adults and children. It will proceed to Kgalagadi North, Kgalagadi South, Chobe, Kgatleng and North East districts during the current financial year. Refractive errors have been found to be the leading cause of vision impairment amongst school going children.
It is estimated that about 1.4 million children worldwide live with vision impairment. In Botswana, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of children with visual impairment and eye diseases at health facilities over the years. This then affects not just their learning but their quality of life in general.