Dajabón.- After successfully carrying out several comprehensive health days on the Northwest Line in which 9,048 services were provided to students in the areas of oral, visual, hearing and preventive health, the National Institute for Student Well-being (INABIE) began this week the delivery of 446 ophthalmic lenses to schoolchildren who were diagnosed with eye conditions during checkups.
The deliveries were made directly to the students in the company of their parents and teaching staff from the benefited schools in Dajabón, Sabaneta de Santiago Rodríguez and Villa Vásquez, where 243 glasses were distributed, while in Mao, Valverde province, 203 glasses will be distributed next week. to complete the total.
Improve quality of life
With the glasses, which were delivered free of charge, the aim is for students to have a better performance in the teaching-learning processes, as well as improve their quality of life, since many had frequent headaches and other symptoms.
The beneficiaries themselves even explained that they had to stand up from their seats in the classrooms to be able to see what was posted on the blackboard, while others saw the letters in textbooks blurred.
“It fills us with satisfaction to know that the taxpayer resources managed through this institution are fulfilling their mission of benefiting students throughout the country,” said Executive Director Víctor Castro.
The days of evaluation and check-ups were carried out between September and November of this year by the Department of Health Management School of the Directorate of Health and Social Services of INABIE.
After these interventions, the adaptations of the lenses adjusted to the needs of each student were carried out in the institution’s own laboratory.
Economical support
In addition to the direct benefits to students, the delivery of these corrective lenses is an important contribution to families, since in the market their costs are around RD$4,500 and RD$11,500 each.
“Here there are opticians, but with what one earns it is not enough to be able to afford the expenses of buying a pair of glasses,” highlighted Elizabeth Estévez, a resident of Sabaneta, who has two children who benefited.
In addition, during the sessions, 13,149 medications were delivered as part of the institution’s preventive health area.
