Quezon City to establish eye care program

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1041260
• Thursday, July 12, 2018 5:47 pm

By Perfecto Raymundo, Jr. (PNA)

MANILA -- Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista on Thursday ordered the establishment of a comprehensive eye care program that includes primary eye care for city residents.

Currently, Quezon City has an estimated population of more than three million.

“Nararapat na maghandog ang pamahalaan ng de-kalidad na serbisyong medikal sa lahat ng residente ng Quezon City na may problema sa mata (It is but proper that the government offers quality medical service to all Quezon City residents who have eye problems),” Bautista said in a chance interview.

Bautista issued the order pursuant to City Ordinance 2689-2018, authored by Councilors Julienne Alyson Rae Medalla and Diorella Maria Sotto.

The ordinance seeks to have a wide inter-sectoral collaboration - through community participation - to provide an efficient system on the prevention, identification and treatment of visual impairment and blindness.

The program shall contribute in promoting the “right to sight” of Filipinos in line with Vision 2020 Philippines that will strengthen the partnership with stakeholders in eliminating avoidable blindness, empowering communities to take proactive roles in the promotion of eye health and prevention of blindness.

The Quezon City Health Department (QCHD), together with the Quezon City General Hospital and the Department of Health, shall provide training courses on eye care, vision screening, and other relevant services to community health workers, doctors, nurses, public school and day care teachers.

Section 7 of the ordinance provides that “an annual vision screening in Quezon City shall be spearheaded by the QCHD in barangays, public schools and day care centers.”