Free Eye Examination Outreach

This report contains a brief summary of the free eye examination medical outreach organized by Age in Health Organization, an Ontario Incorporated non for profit organization in partnership with Steadfast Love Empowerment outreach, a Nigeria incorporated non for profit.

Project Overview

The medical outreach was carried out in Okwe community of Onu Imo LGA of Imo State in Nigeria on the 20^th of November, 2020. The activities carried out increased community awareness about the need for regular eye checkup and consequences of poor eye care.

The event was hosted at the community health center and had about Eighty (80) persons in attendance which include:

• One (1) Optometrist
• One (1) General practitioner doctor
• Two (2) Nurses
• Six (6) Volunteers
• Seventy (70) Benefactors

The community head was represented by his wife, who gave a welcome and appreciation speech at the beginning and end of the program. In her closing remarks, she expressed how grateful they are for the outreach and confirmed that nothing of this sort has ever been held in the community. She also thanked us for the education and made the participants promise to care for their eyes more.

Activities carried out

The activities carried out during the outreach include:

1. Eye Examination.
2. Glasses check and changed glasses
3. Distribution of vitamins and other medications
4. Referred participants to hospitals for follow up
5. Education on how to care for the eyes and glasses
6. Distribution of beverages and toiletries

Our Findings

• The participants were so excited about the outreach.
• Poverty and poor access to medical centres were at the very top challenges of the participants.
• Most of the participants are low-income earners and cannot afford to go for hospital checkups
• Due to this, we discovered that a lot of them had broken glasses and worn out lenses. We also discovered that most of them are not able to afford their routine eye medications and do not know what vitamins or foods are good for the eyes and so do not consume them.
• Finally, we discovered two participants who had early glaucoma and one with early cataract.