<p><strong>In Bihar an estimated 4,56,000 children suffer from refractive errors.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Some estimates even say that 7 in 10 school-going children have an eye problem.</strong> The rural child is worst affected. It is even believed that more than 80% of these children population have never had an eye checkup in their lifetime.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.akhandjyoti.org/public/backend/assets/img/blog-image/Ped 2.png" alt="school screening" width="800" height="533" />&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Akhand Jyoti</strong> with support from <strong>Orbis</strong> is working towards making their eyes fit; fit to learn, fit to play, and fit to succeed through a unique and extensive <strong>&lsquo;School Screening Programme&rsquo;</strong>.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.akhandjyoti.org/public/backend/assets/img/blog-image/8c56c9534afc9a17ab5b15b23becd914-image.png" alt="school programme" width="800" height="533" />&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Orbis has been one of Akhand Jyoti's longstanding partners over the years.</h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It has helped Akhand Jyoti in strengthening its paediatric services, refurbishing and providing equipment to select vision centres, clinical and non-clinical trainings, procuring ophthalmic/ non-ophthalmic equipment and a Vision Van, in reaching out to the community for paediatric screening with support of spectacles and surgery to the needy.</p>
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<p><strong>Visual impairment in children is more devastating and disabling than adult-onset blindness.</strong> Due to a child&rsquo;s longer lifespan, they suffer more when compared to an adult with similar problems.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.akhandjyoti.org/public/backend/assets/img/blog-image/Ped 12.png" alt="childhood blindness" width="800" height="533" />&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>This leads to discrimination and isolation of the child.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>The kid also loses equal opportunities in childhood. </strong></p>
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<p>Further, the family&rsquo;s wellbeing deteriorates. When a child&rsquo;s vision malfunctions; education and participation in play suffers. <strong>Hence good vision is the key for children to succeed in school.</strong> This enables the next generation to blossom to their potential.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>A simple prescription eyeglass can not only correct vision but enhance the learning capacity of a child.</h2>
<p><img src="https://www.akhandjyoti.org/public/backend/assets/img/blog-image/ped collage 1.png" alt="school children bihar" width="800" height="533" />&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Children do not complain of defective vision and may not even be aware of the problem. </strong></p>
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<p>However, genuine complains are many a time ignored by the parents, due to widespread ignorance and illiteracy. This warrants early detection and treatment to prevent permanent disability.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.akhandjyoti.org/public/backend/assets/img/blog-image/Ped 9.png" alt="akhand jyoti" width="800" height="533" />&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://www.akhandjyoti.org/public/backend/assets/img/blog-image/Ped 10.png" alt="akhand jyoti eye hospital" width="800" height="533" /></p>
<p><strong>Bihar is the least literate state in the country.</strong> Further, there is a grave dearth of eye care providers in rural areas of the state.</p>
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<p>This demotivates parents to travel great distances to access eye care services for their children. On top of this, parents are not able to take their child to a doctor, as it would mean sacrificing a day&rsquo;s earning because they are mostly agrarians and daily wage earners.</p>
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<p><strong>Bihar has the lowest GDP per capita in the country.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>The state lags in all aspects of poverty, health, education, and human wellbeing.</strong></p>
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<p>Bihar being a very densely populated state in India, door-to-door screening is not feasible. <strong>School screening is the best way to reach out to and identify children having eye problems.</strong></p>
<p><img src="https://www.akhandjyoti.org/public/backend/assets/img/blog-image/ped 18.png" alt="akhand jyoti" width="800" height="533" />&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Akhand Jyoti with support from Orbis is on a mission to screen school-going children in rural Bihar to correct their vision and give them an opportunity in life.</h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Every day our school screening team screens around 500 kids, 6 days a week.</strong></p>
<p><img src="https://www.akhandjyoti.org/public/backend/assets/img/blog-image/Ped 1.png" alt="akhand jyoti" width="800" height="533" />&nbsp;</p>
<h3>A child detected with vision impairment is provided with spectacle or required surgical intervention completely free of cost.</h3>
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<p>The programme also generates awareness about the problem among the teachers and parents. This inspires them to take part in addressing vision impairment in children.</p>
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<p>Special training sessions for teachers are organised to better capacitate them to identify children with vision problems.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.akhandjyoti.org/public/backend/assets/img/blog-image/Ped 11.png" alt="akhand jyoti" width="800" height="533" />&nbsp;</p>
<h3>The impact of the programme from July 2018 till February 2020 have been:</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>93,779 - </strong>Eye screenings done</li>
<li><strong>527 - </strong>Schools covered</li>
<li><strong>724 - </strong>Spectacles prescribed</li>
<li><strong>476 - </strong>Spectacles distributed</li>
</ul>
<p><img src="https://www.akhandjyoti.org/public/backend/assets/img/blog-image/Ped 13.png" alt="akhand jyoti eye hospital" width="800" height="533" />&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Every year we intend to screen 200,000 children in rural Bihar.</h3>
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<p>Your solidarity to and advocacy for our programme is most crucial to us in reaching this goal.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Help a kid see better today&hellip;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>and secure the nation&rsquo;s future tomorrow.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>#SwasthDrishtiAbhiyan</strong></p>