The new program of the Belarusian Children’s Fund “I SEE…!”

The Belarusian Children’s Fund continues developing its medical programs for children who have suffered from cancer and inborn heart diseases. These programs are known as “Rainbow of Hope”, “Children’s Heart” and “Happy Hearts”.

The new program “I see…! ” is aimed to help children with various pathologies of vision. This program was initiated by the Belarusian Children’s Fund, the Health Department of Gomel Regional Executive Committee, the Department of Ophthalmology of the Gomel State Medical University, by doctors and students of Southern College of Optometry (Tennessee state, the USA).

As a rule, there is a lack of narrow specialists in rural areas. For example there is only one ophthalmologist in the local hospital of Oktyabrsky district of Gomel region. A lot of dwellers of the region haven’t visited this doctor for several years for different reasons.  Some children from disadvantaged families have never checked their vision. Elderly people also have difficulties with medical care. That is why it is so important for doctors to come to the countryside so that they have the opportunity to examine every person.

Within the scope of the program of the Belarusian Children’s Fund “ I see…! ” the delegation of 12 people from Southern College of Optometry came to Belarus. The head of the delegation was Daniel Smith. He is a doctor of optometry, scientific associate of the American Academy of Optometry and qualified specialist in the USA. Dr. Smith received training in the sphere of diagnostics and treatment of children’s and adults’ vision problems. Doctors brought all the necessary equipment for diagnostics with them.

The doctors were working in Oktyabrsky district of Gomel region since the 3^d till the 6^th of May 2010. More then 600 children and adults from the rural areas were checked. More then a half of examined people need visual correction of different types.  Each examined person received medical advice. Doctors gave free glasses to all people who needed them.

The staff of the Department of Ophthalmology of the Gomel State Medical University will analyze the findings. They will become the basic for elaboration of prevention and treatment arrangements.

The Belarusian Children’s Fund intends to make the program “ I see…! ” permanent, to broaden its scope of activity and to provide Belarusian and foreign doctors and students with new opportunities for collaboration and skill-sharing.