Sri Lankan Vision Technicians Provide Vision For Future
Giving Sight in Sri Lanka, one of Optometry Giving Sight’s priority programs, has changed the lives of thousands since it began in response to the devastating 2004 tsunami.
By 2009 this project, funded by Optometry Giving Sight and implemented by ICEE, aims to train 53 new vision technicians to deliver primary eye care services and affordable spectacles to more than 2.4 million people in 35 newly created vision centres and two optical workshops in the hill country districts of Kegalle, Badulla and Ampara.
Naomi Freuden, from ICEE, recently recruited the first group of vision technicians and said: “Training people from local communities to become vision technicians is crucial to the long-term sustainability of the project. It’s fantastic to meet such community minded people who are dedicated to helping others and improving the lives
of people in poorer rural areas”.
Of those who applied, 11 future vision technicians were selected. Successful applicant, Menaka Samanmali Malavitais, is a young woman from a family who has always helped those in need in the community. Menaka is committed to her future in eye care, “having the chance to help a person see the world will be the best part of becoming a vision technician. ICEE’s purpose is to help others, my purpose is also to help others,” she said.
The successful applicants will complete their year long training at the LV Prasad Eye Institute in India. The course will provide them with the skills necessary to perform refraction, detect and refer potentially damaging eye diseases, as well as dispense spectacles. The technicians will then work within local Vision Centres in Sri Lanka to provide ongoing primary eye care to the local community.
