ST CHARLES STUDENTS RECEIVE PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES FROM LAILA FOUNDATION AND PIH
BY SHARON AGAVI
THE Laila Foundation, in partnership with Pacific International Hospital through its Eye Care Plus division, today marked an important milestone in the School Vision Screening Program with the first distribution of complimentary prescription spectacles to students identified with vision impairment.
The event was held at St. Charles Lwanga Secondary School, where the first group of students received their customized prescription spectacles following comprehensive eye screening and refraction.
The initiative was originally launched by the Minister for Health on World Sight Day in October 2025 at Gordons Secondary School.
The program aims to screen students across schools in the National Capital District (NCD) to detect refractive errors early and provide free corrective spectacles to students who need them.
Since the launch, approximately 2,000 students across several NCD schools, including Ted Diro Primary School, Gordons Secondary School, and St. Charles Lwanga Secondary School have undergone vision screening.
The program plans to screen up to 20,000 students across the district over the coming months.
The prescription lenses and frames have been generously provided by the OneSight Essilor Foundation, enabling students to receive customized spectacles free of charge.
The event was attended by the Secretary for Health, who commended the initiative and emphasized the importance of preventive health programs in schools.
“For many children, the difference between struggling in the classroom and succeeding is simply the ability to see clearly,” the Secretary for Health said. “Early detection of vision problems through school screening programs is a practical and effective way to support both child health and educational outcomes.”
In her program briefing, Dr. Amyna Sultan, Director of the Laila Foundation, highlighted the importance of advocacy and partnerships in making the initiative possible.
“Many children struggle in school simply because they cannot see clearly,” Dr. Sultan said.
Dr. Sultan also encouraged other schools in the National Capital District to participate in the initiative.
The program is supported by several partners including Charity Vision and the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose collaboration has strengthened efforts to improve access to eye care for school children.
