Santa Marcela, Apayao – 42 Santa Marcela Barangay Health workers, Municipal Links, and Child Development Workers underwent primary eye care training on November 5 at the EKB Clubhouse in the municipal compound to aid the town in its fight against eye problems, including possible blindness due to failure of early detection.
As of yet, the municipality is consolidating data of cases of visual impairments in its barangays. While there are observed cases, there is a need to see the whole and clearer picture.
Mayor Evelyn Martinez, in an interview, said this is a significant move as some areas in town are not accessible to eye clinics and some residents procrastinate in hvaing consultations due to less awareness and financial challenges.
“Agyaman kami iti Provincial Health office, Provincial DOH, and Fred Hollows Foundation ta adda ti kastoy nga naited nga training kadagit barangay workers tayo. Tehy are the frontliners and if they are capacitated, their help can contribute to lessening the eye problems in the community,” said Martinez.
The training is part of the Eye health System Strengthening and Integration (ESSI) Project of the Provincial Health Office in partnership with the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Myolaine C. Hilario, during the training, underscored importance of understanding the Eye-Anatomy and functions (Normal Eye vs. Abnormal Eye) and Common Eye Disorders and what the primary eye care training can give to the participants.
“Napakahalaga ang training na to sa ating mga participants dahil magiging katuwang namin sila sa implementation ng program na kung saan sa barangay level palang ay ma-utilize na natin ang mga health workers na kayang mag-conduct ng basic visual screening,” Hilario explained.
Other topics discussed included Administration of Eye Treatment, Common Beliefs and Facts, and Visual Acuity where participants engage in Return Demonstration on visual acuity.
PHO Head Dr. Mark Claban, in a phone interview, said the trainees will also aid in gathering data and documenting visual impairment in town. If schedule goes as planned, they will begin eye screening in the barangays starting November 19.
It is hoped that the needs of the underprivileged and geographically remote barangays will be served through the partnership of various agencies, including the DILG, PhilHealth, Local Government Units (LGU's) Provincial DOH Office, private ophthalmologists, and under the FRED Hollows Foundation, and the PHO.
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