PHILIPSBURG:---Kidz at Sea Foundation once again welcomed our sponsor, the Essilor Vision Foundation USA, who have been providing free eye exams on St. Maarten for the last three consecutive years.
During the last week of March, the Essilor Vision Foundation came with multiple doctors and all the necessary equipment for vision testing. They worked diligently in conjunction with the SVOBE schools and management to ensure that as many school students could be examined during their three-and-a-half-day visit. 768 individuals were tested on St. Maarten and 238 on Anguilla for a total of 1006 patients examined. St. Maarten School age participants were organized via SVOBE management and the local school boards; the White & Yellow Cross, Sister Basilia Center on St. Maarten and the Blossom Centre in Anguilla also participated.
The contribution to the future success our student body is amazing as nearly all students examined required some sort of corrective eye wear. Participants ranged in age from 3 to 80; with all ranges of site. It just goes to show, how neglected eye care is in our society; with the damaging effects of the sun, diabetes and hypertension all taking their toll.
“Kidz at Sea is always thankful to have the support of Essilor and we are also extremely lucky to have the support of SVOBE team members under the direction of Wim de Visser both at MPC and Sundial who welcomed us onto their campuses with open arms to help the entire student body of St. Maarten. By working together our collective vision is always much brighter.” said Kidz at Sea President Lorraine Talmi.
In the hopes of spreading Eye Care awareness here are some key issues about eye health every resident of St. Maarten should know.
