Download 15 May - Ministry of Education

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding
“Vision Screening”
Address of Dr the Hon V Bunwaree
Minister of Education and Human Resources
Venue: Office of Minister, Port Louis
Date:
Tuesday 15 May, 2012
Time:
0830 Hours
Ilot
Mr Neeraj Swaroop, Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank (Mtius) Ltd
Mr Sridhar Nagarajan, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank
Mrs Farheen Jannoo-Oozeer, President Optical Association of Mauritius
(OAM)
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Resources
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great pleasure for me to be present for the signing ceremony of
the Memorandum of Understanding on Vision Screening.
The eye is an important and sensitive organ. It is generally described
as resembling a camera in that it is light-tight except for one aperture the
pupil, for admission of light rays. The lens is convex and made up of
transparent fibrous tissue with considerable degree of elasticity. The lens
is held in position by suspensory ligament and is operated by contraction of
the ciliary muscle.
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The rays of light enter through the pupil. The lens act as a fine
adjustment bringing the light ray to focus on a sensitive part of the eye, the
retina. The retina is made up of rods and cones. The combination of rods
and cones enables the eye to be efficient under all light conditions.
There are a number of common defects of the eye apart from many
caused by damage or disease. Perhaps the most common are myopia and
hypermetropia known respectively as short and long sight. In the myopic
condition, the eyeball is slightly elongated from front to back and the light
rays are brought to focus in front of the retina with the result that the image
is blurred. In long sight the eyeball is too short and images are focused
behind the retina.
Presbyopia is a condition attributed to advancing age due to
hardening and loss of elasticity of the lens.
In another condition
astigmatism, the rays of light are not all focused at the same point. It may
be due to many causes, the principal being unequal curvature of the front
of the eyeball, the cornea. Cataract is the condition in which there are
opacities in the lens.
It is for this reason that my Ministry has embarked on a vision testing
campaign for Primary Schools pupils. A student with vision problem will
experience hardship to follow the class. He will not be able to read and he
will be hampered in his studies.
With the initiative to carry out vision
screening, it will be possible, at an early stage, to detect those students
with poor eye sight and vision problems.
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The attention of parents will be drawn about any vision defect
affecting their children. Treatment can be initiated when the child is still
young to avoid any aggravation of the condition.
As you may be aware, it has been announced in the recent
Government Programme that, for each child, there will be provision for a
child Health Passport with regular update on any basic health issue which
may undermine the health of the child including any vision problem.
Actually, my Ministry is contemplating to put up a Health and
Wellness Unit looking at all aspects of health, preventive measures against
communicable and non-communicable disease, as well as the general well
being of the child in terms of breathing exercise, indulging in Physical
Education and sports practice to keep students fit and healthy.
Standard Chartered Bank (Mtius) Ltd, the Optical Association of
Mauritius (OAM), the Rotary Club, have been collaborating to extend
support for sustaining the vision screening exercise. Training has been
imparted to staff to undertake preliminary vision testing of students.
Volunteers from Standard Chartered Bank trained in vision screening will
join staff of the Education sector to give a new momentum to vision
screening.
I am given to understand that the Optical Association of Mauritius will
be prepared to examine and extend treatment to poor students with no
means and afflicted with vision problems. I wish to express my gratitude to
the Association for this laudable initiative.
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The Standard Chartered bank, which is part of the Standard
Chartered International Banking Group, has been established in Mauritius
in 2002. It has already become the third largest bank offering a range of
onshore and offshore wholesale banking innovative and customized
services. Besides being one of the leading banking institution under its
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, it has been active in
social development particularly with vision screening. It has been working
closely with Rotary Club to assist to identify children with vision problems.
The Memorandum of Understanding which will be signed just now will
be a hallmark. It coincides with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of
Standard Chartered Bank in Mauritius. It is an occasion for celebration as
it will be a milestone to reinforce the collaboration and the commitment to
continue to work relentlessly to detect children with vision problem and
assist them towards better and improved vision.
I take this opportunity to thank the Chairman, the CEO and other
representatives of Standard Chartered Bank.
I also wish to thank the Optical Association of Mauritius for its
cooperation. I hope this will usher in a new era to give a new impetus to
vision screening of students and come to their help to assure them of a
better and promising future.
Thank you.