Blind Welfare Association observes World Sight Day

From: "BlindNews Mailing List" <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 20:08:05 -0400
St. Lucia Star, Caribbean
Friday, October 19, 2007

Blind Welfare Association observes World Sight Day  

By Kayra Williams

In observation of World Sight Day, the St Lucia Blind Welfare Association last 
Thursday, hosted an open day at its offices in Sans Souci. According to the 
association, the main purpose of the open house was to sensitize people 
regarding their eye-sight

"Most people take their eye-sight for granted and many are negligent when it 
comes to their eye-sight," said Anthony Avril. "Most of the time its only when 
they suspect that they have a problem, or if they're experiencing some pain, 
then they would think about having an eye check. People need to take 
responsibility for their eye-sight. One's eye sight is one's responsibility." 
This year the focus was vision for children.

 "The emphasis this year is on children's vision and we've asked a few resource 
people to come in and speak on various things relating or impacting on eye 
sight. People came in to ask questions and to find out more about what we do 
here." Dr Granderson Didier was one of the day's presenters and she spoke on 
care for the elderly. Nutritionist Sybil Phillip and Dunstan Fontenelle of the 
St Lucia Diabetes Association made other presentations.

Those who came to the open-day were taken on tours around the center. They were 
introduced to the special computer lab for blind people, the low vision center 
for vision assessment and Eye Care St Lucia-a section with an eye clinic for 
full eye exams and treatment. All who came received free eye exams. "Every year 
there's a different theme," said Emma Bernard, manager of Eye Care St Lucia. 
"In keeping with this year's theme, a concert that featured the visually 
impaired, blind and disabled children was held at the CCSS auditorium on 
Sunday." 

According to Emma Bernard, the aim was to heighten awareness of what children 
can do and to draw attention to childhood and avoidable blindness. "That was 
the main reason and another was to raise funds to help the blind and visually 
impaired," she said. "This year, although the theme deals with children, we 
still felt it necessary to speak to older persons and to have an open day, not 
only for them to see the services that we offer but to hear talks on skin 
diseases, diabetes and nutrition. We thought it fitting to host open house 
because blindness can affect everyone. Also, if we don't take care of the youth 
eyes, it means that there would not be any one to take care of the elderly. We 
hope that St Lucians pay attention to their children and grandchildren's sight 
because it's so important."
 

http://www.stluciastar.com/NewsHome/LocalNews/tabid/571/newsid1152/2875/Default.aspx
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Blind Welfare Association observes World Sight Day

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