Vulnerable families in Chennai receive free eye check-up in collaborative camp from SOS Children’s Villages India and Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital
In a collaborative effort between SOS Children’ Villages India and Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, residents of vulnerable families in Chennai’s Tambaram received free eye check-ups. The one-day health camp saw participation from 150 children and 100 adults hailing from neighbouring communities supported by SOS Children’s Villages India’s Family Strengthening Programme.
The Family Strengthening Programme in Chennai was initiated in the year 2009 with 75 families. The purpose of introducing the Family Strengthening Programme was to uplift vulnerable families out of the vicious web of poverty and helping them reach self-reliance, which in turn, helps to avoid situations of child abandonment. SOS India supports these families through interventions that strengthen their livelihood through capacity building in order to help them become self-sustainable. In addition, awareness drives on saving for the future, health, child protection and safeguarding are also organized to help the families to better take care of their children.
One such camp was the collaboration with Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital. As the cases of myopia (near-sightedness) and hypertonia (physical medical condition characterized by increased muscle tone and stiffness) see a surge over the years, eye health cannot be overlooked. Adults and children alike should get ophthalmological tests and screenings done at regular intervals to detect eye-related health problems early.
Karthikeyan, Corporate Relationship Head, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Chennai said, “Good vision plays an important role in a child’s learning, development, and overall well-being. Yet eye health can often be overlooked, particularly in communities where access to regular screenings may be limited. Through this initiative, we were able to bring basic eye screening and professional guidance closer to families who may not otherwise have easy access to such services. Early identification of vision concerns can make all the difference. We are pleased to support SOS Children’s Villages India in this effort and contribute towards building greater awareness around the importance of preventive eye care.”
This collaboration aimed to provide preventive early diagnosis for eye diseases such as weak eyesight, colour blindness, and lazy eyes. A team of qualified doctors and clinical coordinators from Dr Agarwals screened the children and provided basic consultations and preventive measures to the children and caregivers so that they can be guarded against any eye-related issues in future. Further diagnosis was consulted in case of detection of necessary treatments.
Sumanta Kar, CEO, SOS Children’s Villages India, said, “It is often difficult for children to communicate eye-related challenges. This is why interventions at the right time are crucial. This camp is a stepping stone in ensuring that vulnerable children and even their parents appropriate ophthalmological care as it contributes to their quality of life. Our partnership with Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, has enabled us to provide timely eye screening and preventive care, helping our programme participants address vision concerns”.
This partnership reflects SOS Children’s Villages and Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital’s goal to work on healthcare for children. This is a step towards the overall growth of the vulnerable children and providing basic medical services to them.
