 |
|
Background |
 |
- Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)
together with the major eye tertiary institutions are organising
the 6th National Eye Care Day on 3 December 2005. This annual
community event aims to promote eye health awareness among Singaporeans
of all ages. We are focusing this year’s event on eye care
for the needy.
- The National Eye Care Day is an initiative
of the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) and was inaugurated
by the then Minister for Health, Mr Lim Hng Kiang in 2000.
- This year we are pleased to announce
that all the eye departments from public hospitals, namely, Tan
Tock Seng Hospital, National University Hospital, Alexandra Hospital
and Changi General Hospital, are participating with SNEC as joint
organizers thereby making this the largest national eye care day
event to date. All participating eye institutions are offering
free eye screening at their premises on the same day as part of
the National Eye Care Day. A higher number of people will be screened
this year with a focus on the needy which is achieved by collaborating
with the various CDCs and CCs.
Free Eye Screening, eye care
talks and health screening for the Needy
- The event’s organizing committee,
chaired by Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Singapore
National Eye Centre and comprising members of the various hospitals
mentioned above, have worked with the respective Community Development
Councils (CDC) to invite their needy residents especially those
participating in the Primary Care Partnership Scheme (PCPS) and
voluntary welfare homes for the free eye screening at the participating
centres on National Eye Care day.
- With the other eye tertiary care institutions
coming together, we are targeting to screen 3,000 people on National
Eye Care day. All appointments for free eye screening at the 5
locations have been taken up and about half are residents registered
through the CDCs, Community Centres and Voluntary Welfare organizations.
The rest are public who registered on a first come-first served
basis.
- One thousand medical and paramedical
staffs from Singapore National Eye Centre and the participating
eye departments from Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National University
Hospital, Alexandra hospital and Changi General hospital have
volunteered their time for this National Eye Care day. In addition,
we have volunteers from Singapore Polytechnic Optometry, CDCs
and also community clubs lending their hands to ensure the success
of the event.
- There will be a series of public talks
on eye diseases and eye care at the participating institutions,
the focus being on common age-related eye conditions such as cataracts,
glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Mayors and their representatives
will be visiting the eye department in their respective constituencies
to support the activities on site.
- As in previous National Eye Care Day,
we have not foregotten to put out the general health message and
the Diabetic Society of Singapore (DSS) and National Kidney Foundation
(NKF) are offering free health screening and general health information
to 1,500 participants at the SNEC.
Launch of Two 'Gift of Sight
for the Needy' Initiatives
2000 Free Eye Wear for Needy
Children
- We are also pleased to announce another
save-sight initiative for the needy targeting at K1 and K2 myopic
children. The myopic rate in K1 and K2 is about 8% according to
one study conducted few years ago. The Singapore Optical Trade
Association have approached their members to support this worthy
cause. Today we announce the donation of 2,000 pairs of spectacles
for K1 & K2 children by over 60 members of the Singapore Optical
Trade Association to provide Free Eye Wear for Needy Children
under the KIFAS scheme (Kindergarten
financial assistance scheme).
- Singapore Eye Foundation will again
help to coordinate this programme which is planned to start
on 1st Jan 2006 and end on 31 Dec 2006.
- The main objective of this programme
is to ensure children of needy families are not disadvantaged
in schools as result of poor vision from myopia. Currently there
are about 12,000 to 15,000 children under KIFAS island wide.
- The total number of children under
KIFAS requiring spectacles is about 1000 to 1500. The school
health service screens all children in K1/K2. Children suspected
with myopia are referred to the refraction clinics for cycloplegic
refraction and if needed, spectacles are prescribed. The estimated
cost of the spectacles is $50-75 each. Those children under
the KIFAS who require spectacles will be identified. They will
be refracted as part of the school health service screening
in the HPB designated refraction clinics (in Choa Chu Kang,
Woodlands, Geylang and Outram polyclinics) and notified to collect
a voucher which they can present to the optical retail shop
to have the pair of spectacles fitted.
1000 Free Cataract
Intraocular Lens for the Needy
- We are also happy to announce the
donation of “1000 free cataract intraocular lens
for the needy” by 2 pharmaceutical firms, Alcon
Pte Ltd, who will sponsor the 500 intra-ocular lenses bundled
with consumables needed for the surgeries while Advanced Medical
Optics (AMO) will sponsor 500 intra-ocular lenses.
- These products will be donated to
Singapore Eye Foundation who will be in charge of the allocations
to approved cases. In general, we are targeting to help elderly
destitutes in subsidized nursing homes to reach the unreached
and other such deserving cases who will undergo eye screening
by eye doctors to determine if they require cataract surgery.
- SEF plans to approach the participating
eye institutions for this Eye Care Day and other eye specialists
to volunteer to perform the free cataract surgeries. The programme
hopes to start in January 2006. More details on the administration
of this programme will be announced later.
Conclusion
- As tertiary eye care providers, we
are pleased to engage the various organizations in the community,
working together to contribute and show care for the needy by
providing free eye screening on National Eye Care Day and to launch
the two “Gifts of sight initiatives for the needy”.
The media release is coordinated by:
Ravi Chandran
c/o Singapore National Eye Centre
Tel: 6322 8394
E-mail: ravi@snec.com.sg
|
