Over 300,000 Osun Students To Benefit From Imole School Eye Health Programme

As part of the efforts to improve eye care among schoolchildren in the state, no fewer than 345,000 students across Osun State are set to benefit from the Imole School Eye Health Programme.

Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed Osun Health Insurance Agency to carry out comprehensive eye checkup of all students in the state Public Primary and Secondary Schools.

This will be done in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education

Speaking at a press conference, in Osogbo, on Tuesday, the Executive Secretary, Osun Health Insurance Agency, OSHIA, Rasaq Akindele, stressed the programme will involve comprehensive eye screenings and examinations in schools.

He further disclosed that programme will involve comprehensive eye screenings and examinations in schools, while students diagnosed with refractive errors will receive corrective spectacles, and those requiring medications will be provided with appropriate drugs.

According to him, “The concept of Imole School Health is born out of the fact that not all students who are not performing optimally academically are really intellectually poor. Quite a good number of them have challenges with their visions which make them not to be able to see what the teacher writes on the board or even demonstrates in front of the class.

“A lot of them strain and squeeze their eyes, but yet they would not be able to see well, the result of which is poor academic performance. Many of these students and their parents don’t realise that visual challenges are the basis of poor academic outcome.

“There are Three Hundred and Forty-five thousand Pupils and students in these schools and all of them will be screened and examined; those with refractive errors will be provided with corrective spectacles, those that needs drugs will be given and those whose conditions necessitate surgical interventions will be accorded the opportunity.

“Our children must see well, Imole must prevail in Osun State. The training of the school teachers who will carry out the screening will commence on Thursday 20th February, 2025.

“Thereafter there will be school based screening of the pupils using Visual Acquity Chat will commence on the 24th to 26th February. From 27th February to 7th March, refraction and provision of glasses, provision of drugs, and corrective surgeries will be carried out.

“Also, His Excellency, Senator Dr Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, shall also be personally presenting these glasses to the deserving students during this period.

“We want to implore the parents and guidance to please avail their children and wards this rare opportunity of the Imole School Eye Health. Such has never been done before and it will take another visionary Leader to do it again.”