Free eye screenings for learners in Mamelodi East
"Parents don’t have to worry about paying for the glasses - we have a budget to take care of that."
More than a hundred learners including teachers at Bajabulile primary school had free eye screening in Mamelodi East.
The Pretoria South Lions Club made free eye screenings possible for the learners who have a problem with sight with a spot machine.
David McCullough, from Lions Club, said the free eye screening would help learners who have sight problems and were unable to cope in class.
“We have noticed in an average school 25% of the learners have a sight problem and they struggle in class.
“If they don’t see, they can’t read and they can’t learn. They tend to be a problem in class; becoming a ‘naughty’ kid in the corner and is not doing them any favours at all,” said McCullough.
“We can cure their sight problems and bring them back to society to become responsible persons; some of the children can become future doctors, sports players and lawyers.
“We do the screening with a spot machine. it’s not an eye test, but the results could be very close to an actual test.”
They have also visited schools in Kameeldrift and Pretoria West.
“We help the learners to get the necessary eye tests and we also make sure they get spectacles and reading glasses depending on the outcome of the tests.”
ALSO READ: School honours bus driver’s bravery
He added that the Lions clubs have the budget to take the children for proper eye tests.
“Also, parents don’t have to worry about paying for the glasses – we have a budget to take care of that.
“The Pretoria South Lions Club also collects old frame spectacles from optometrists and we also encourage the public to donate old spectacle frames.”
Gizella McCullough, from Lions Club, said they have identified several children at the school who will require specialist assistance.
“In the past, we have identified several such children whom we have helped. We are seeing that their academics have improved by as much as 25% in attending school. Participation and their confidence have also improved.”
McCullough said they had quite “a nice success rate”.
“Anyone who has a sight problem is welcome,” she said.
“We do eye screening for children as young as six months until 90 years old.”
She said they would like to start working more at primary schools.
“We want to start screening as early as grade R. If we can identify problems early enough, we can help that the children don’t miss any grades. That way they won’t miss fundamental core parts of their learning before going to high school.”
The Pretoria South Lions Club is a non-profit organisation formed more than 100 years ago aimed at making a difference.
“The club focuses on five specific pillars in the community,” said McCullough.
“We concentrate on sight, hearing, diabetes, environment and relieving hunger.
“We are changing the world one community at a time around the globe.
“We are 1.4 million men and women who believe that kindness matters and when we work together, we can achieve bigger goals,” she concluded.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
