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More than 11 thousand children in 8 districts: the project "I see!" completed a large-scale vision examination of schoolchildren in the Brest region

On January 22, 2019, the organizers of the project “I see!” - Belarusian Children's Fund, velcom company and the Brest Regional Executive Committee - summed up the work in the past year. As part of the charity project "I see!" In 2018, a visual examination of schoolchildren was conducted in rural areas of the Brest region. From March to December, two mobile teams of ophthalmologists visited 135 schools in 8 districts and examined 11,651 children directly at the place of study.

In 38.4% (4479) of schoolchildren in the Brest region, various pathologies of vision were detected, and in 63% (2828) of this number, disorders were diagnosed for the first time. Among the most common diagnoses are refractive errors: 36.6% of the detected visual impairments were myopia, another 15% - hypermetropia, 14% - spasm of accommodation, 6.4% - astigmatism.

For seven months of the project "I see!" the doctors of the brigade traveled 22,630 km, wrote out 1380 prescriptions for glasses, issued 82 referrals for additional examinations to specialized medical institutions, 20 referrals for conservative and 15 referrals for surgical treatment.

The students of rural schools act as patients of doctors of mobile teams. The total number of children covered by the project "I see!" for 3 years in 3 regions of the republic amounted to 36,800. In 2016-2017. mobile teams of ophthalmologists carried out vision diagnostics in schoolchildren in rural areas of the Mogilev and Gomel regions, in 2018 the Brest region joined them. The project is implemented by the Belarusian Children's Fund and velcom with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus and regional executive committees.

« Each identified case of eye diseases, each prescribed by the doctors of the I See! referral for treatment and examination is a timely noticed problem, which in many cases can be successfully solved, preventing the worst possible scenario. School age is a time when close attention to eye health is more important than ever, and our task is to do everything possible to ensure that children have the opportunity to identify the problem in a timely manner”, - said the Deputy Director of the Belarusian Children's Fund Irina Chernyakova.

In 2019, the project "I see!" will continue in the Vitebsk region. As in previous years, velcom collected funds for its financing during the traditional charity event "Doing good is so easy!". 176 920 rubles- this is the amount that will go to the account of the Republican Public Association "Belarusian Children's Fund". In the period from 11 to 31 December 2018 for each new subscriber tariff plans of the “Comfort” line, the company transferred 10 rubles each to the “Doing good is so easy” campaign. The collected funds will cover all expenses related to the work of field mobile teams of pediatric ophthalmologists.

"Project" I see! is one of the important components of velcom's corporate social responsibility. In 2019, we are starting a new, already fourth, stage, which will be held in the Vitebsk region. For us, participation in the project is an opportunity not only to provide direct assistance to children in rural areas of Belarus, but also to focus attention on the problem of protecting eyesight in society as a whole. That is why an active informational social campaign to prevent visual impairment and maintain eye health is an important part of the project,”- noted the head of velcom corporate communications department Nikolai Bredelev.

This year, the focus of the information campaign within the framework of the project "I see!" There was a relationship between proper nutrition and good vision. Special bright posters, billboards and city lights told the residents of Minsk and the cities of the Brest region about what foods and in what combinations it is better to eat in order to maintain eye health. And the result of the campaign was a memorable social video with the participation of children, which appeared on the air of the largest republican and some regional channels.

According to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, over the past five years, the incidence of the organ of vision in children has increased by 18%, so the role of timely diagnosis and monitoring of existing disorders is of particular importance.

« Project "I see!" allowed me and my colleagues to diagnose the organs of vision in a huge number of schoolchildren, but most importantly, to communicate directly with them, their teachers, and especially with parents - that is, with those on whom the preservation and prevention of diseases in children most depends. For practicing doctors, the informational component of the project “I see!” important no less than the examinations themselves: after all, it is much more difficult to treat or correct existing disorders than to prevent their occurrence and development”, - said the ophthalmologist of the project “I see!” Tatiana Malei.

During their work in the Brest region, mobile teams of ophthalmologists have traveled more than 22,000 kilometers. Project "I see!" covered Berezovsky, Gantsevichsky, Maloritsky, Zhabinkovsky, Kamenetsky, Kobrinsky, Pruzhany, Lyakhovichsky districts of the region.

"I see" is a charity project for the diagnosis and provision of ophthalmological care to children from rural areas. It is organized by the Belarusian Children's Fund and velcom with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, as well as the executive committees of the regions where the initiative is being implemented.

For two years, 170 thousand dollars in ruble equivalent were transferred for the implementation of the "I See" project. In 2018, it is planned to allocate about 60 thousand dollars more. How this large-scale project was implemented - we tell in a detailed case.

The main idea of ​​the project is to make high-quality ophthalmological care available to children from remote areas of rural areas, where there are not always the right specialists or parents do not have the opportunity to show them the child with the necessary regularity. An illustrative example is that by the time the “I See” project was launched in the Gomel region, 10 of the 14 districts where this initiative was planned did not have children's ophthalmologists.

To solve this problem, the Belarusian Children's Fund and velcom organized the work of mobile teams of ophthalmologists who visit schools and examine the state of vision of students in cars equipped with everything necessary.

velcom is responsible for financing the project - for this purpose, the annual charity campaign "Doing good is so easy!" is held, during which part of the proceeds from sales of equipment or connection of new subscribers is transferred to a special charity account. From these funds, the equipment necessary for conducting examinations is purchased, the work of doctors and drivers and other expenses related to the implementation of the project are paid.

History and statistics of the implementation of the project "I see":

2016– launch of the project and conducting surveys in 19 districts of the Mogilev region.

The number of examined children is 12,702 (85.8% of the total number of children living in the region). Vision pathologies were detected in 27.3% of those examined, and in 56.6% of them visual impairments were detected for the first time.

2017– implementation of the project in 14 districts of the Gomel region. Two mobile teams of ophthalmologists are already involved in the examinations, which are provided with everything necessary equipment and technical support.

The number of children examined was 12,436. Visual pathologies were detected in 34.62% of those examined, of which 48% of children had visual impairments for the first time.

June 2017– launch of an information campaign for the prevention of visual impairment: billboards appeared in Minsk, Mozyr and Gomel with a reminder of why it is important to visit an ophthalmologist in a timely manner, and posters at bus stops public transport with various exercises for visual gymnastics and games for attention and visual acuity for children.

October 12, 2017- at the initiative of the organizers of the project "I see!" On the occasion of the World Sight Day, a video was shot in which famous Belarusians with their children presented a video exercise for the eyes: a set of 8 exercises for the prevention of visual impairment.

In just two years, about 25 thousand children were examined. According to the diagnostic results, 31% of schoolchildren were diagnosed with various vision pathologies, and in 52% of this number visual impairments were diagnosed for the first time.

All children received an examination report. Doctors wrote out 2830 prescriptions for glasses, in 260 cases they ordered additional examinations and issued referrals for treatment in a hospital, about 80 people received referrals for surgical treatment.

2018- project "I see!" will be implemented in 8 districts of the Brest region: Maloritsky, Kamenetsky, Kobrinsky, Zhabinkovsky, Pruzhany, Berezovsky, Gantsevichsky and Lyakhovichsky. To participate in the project, districts were selected, the rural population of which is experiencing certain difficulties in obtaining timely ophthalmological care due to the remoteness from large settlements. It is planned to examine about 13 thousand children.

Surveys have already taken place in the Malorita district. The number of examined children was 1116. Vision pathologies were detected in 41.75%; and in 61.8% of this number visual impairments were diagnosed for the first time. 68 prescriptions for glasses have been issued. 19 children were sent for additional examination, consultations and in-depth diagnostics.

The Belarusian Children's Fund and velcom, with the support of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee, announced the launch of a new charitable project "I see!" for the diagnosis and provision of ophthalmological care to children from rural areas.

The purpose of the charity project "I see!" – to assist in timely diagnosis and identify early visual impairment in school-age children living in rural areas.

The organizers of the charity project equipped a special car with modern diagnostic equipment and ensured the work of a mobile team of children's ophthalmologists in rural areas of the Mogilev region. Until December 31, 2016, more than 14 thousand children in 19 districts of the Mogilev region will be examined by doctors.

“Ophthalmologists come directly to children - to rural schools, even to the most remote villages, and examine children on the spot. Each child is given specific recommendations, if necessary, prescriptions for medicines and glasses are written. And in the most difficult situations, children are sent for consultations and in-depth diagnostics to regional and republican centers.”, - says the director of the Belarusian Children's Fund Alexander Trukhan.

In our country, according to the chief freelance pediatric ophthalmologist of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus Victoria Krasilnikova, every second schoolchild has vision problems. It is important to detect violations in a timely manner, correct them at an early stage, and prevent visual impairment. There are children in remote regions of Belarus who have not been examined by this specialist for several years.

“Corporate social responsibility for velcom is inextricably linked with the main activity, – comments the head of velcom corporate communications department Vyacheslav Smirnov. – We understand that with the development information technologies the load on the eyes, smartphones and tablets in the lives of many children appear already at an early age. Therefore, the importance of timely diagnosis and visiting an ophthalmologist for each child increases even more. It is also very valuable for us that the large-scale project “I see!” was the result of velcom's charity initiative "Doing good is so easy".

About 36,000 people took part in velcom's traditional Christmas initiative "Doing good is so easy" in December 2015! For 17 days, velcom transferred 50,000 Belarusian rubles from its profit to a special account from each smartphone and tablet purchased in branded sales and service centers, as well as in the shop.velcom.by online store. The collected funds were transferred to the Belarusian Children's Fund and directed to the implementation of the joint project "I see!".

During March, a visiting team of ophthalmologists was already working in Belynichsky and Dribinsky districts. Doctors were able to examine about 1,500 children. Some children were given referrals for further examination and operations at the Mogilev Regional Children's Hospital.

As emphasized at a press conference in Mogilev on April 5, the head of the department of medical care for children and mothers of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus Lyudmila Light, the project is truly relevant and significant. “The relevance is primarily due to the fact that diseases of the organs of vision in overall structure the incidence of children in Belarus is in second place, and we, unfortunately, see a slight upward trend in this pathology. Project "I see!" allows to ensure maximum availability and quality of diagnostics of ophthalmic diseases in children”.

Based on the results of a large diagnostic work, a detailed analysis of the situation with the vision of schoolchildren from rural areas of the Mogilev region will be prepared and the necessary materials will be provided to develop specific recommendations for the prevention of visual impairment in children and make the necessary decisions.

For the third time velcom and the Belarusian Children's Fund joined forces to implement a unique charity project "I see!". In 2018, mobile teams of ophthalmologists will work in schools in rural areas of the Brest region and examine 14,000 children.

Funds for the implementation of the project "I see!" will be collected during the eighth charity Christmas initiative of the velcom company “Doing good is so easy”, which will be held throughout Belarus from December 1 to 31.

Project "I see!" is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus and regional executive committees. It is designed to organize timely diagnostics of vision and the provision of ophthalmological care to children living in rural areas, to make it more accessible. Mobile teams of ophthalmologists visit children at their place of study and conduct examinations right at schools. To implement the project, the organizers equipped special vehicles, purchased ophthalmological equipment and organized the work of doctors.

Throughout 2016 and 2017 project "I see!" was implemented in 19 districts of the Mogilev and 14 districts of the Gomel regions of the republic, respectively. In total, about 25 thousand children were examined during this time.

The work of mobile teams of ophthalmologists in the Gomel region will continue until the end of December 2017. this moment the number of examined school-age children in the region amounted to about 12 thousand. Vision problems were detected in 35% of the total number of schoolchildren examined, and in 40% of them problems were diagnosed for the first time. Schoolchildren were examined on several devices, if violations were detected, they received doctor's recommendations, prescriptions for medicines and glasses, and in the most serious cases, referrals for in-depth diagnostics, conservative and surgical treatment to regional and republican centers. In 2018, children from rural areas of the Brest region will be able to receive similar assistance.

All expenses for the project "I see!" are paid at the expense of funds raised by velcom during the traditional Christmas charity initiative "Doing good is so easy". This year, each connection to any of the tariff plans of the "Comfort" and "Comfort+" lines during the period from December 1 to December 31 will turn into 5 rubles, which velcom will transfer to a special charity account from its profits.

"Any negative changes in vision in childhood can progress very quickly. That is why it is so important to identify them at the earliest stage. For two years, the project "I see!" proved to be truly useful and effective. We are happy to continue the project "I see!" and make eye care accessible to 14,000 more children. It is especially important for us that the funds will be collected as part of the annual charitable velcom shares"Doing good is so easy." Since 2010, it has united tens of thousands of people across Belarus. The total amount of assistance provided to children's institutions of the republican scale over the seven years of the campaign has already exceeded one million rubles," said Vyacheslav Smirnov, head of the corporate communications department at velcom.

"One of the main tasks of the Belarusian Children's Fund is to take care of the health of children, to provide them with qualified medical care. The project "I see!" is just an example of providing large-scale and effective assistance to children, caring for their health. The results of the project in Mogilev and Gomel areas confirm the effectiveness and necessity of the project "I see!" and in other regions of Belarus," said Irina Chernyakova, deputy director of the Belarusian Children's Fund.

A charity project "I see!" has started in the Gomel region. Diagnosis and provision of ophthalmological care to children from rural areas will take place in 14 districts, and by the end of 2017, mobile teams of ophthalmologists will examine about 14,000 children.
It is held by the Belarusian Children's Fund and the Velcom mobile communications company with the support of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee.

Teams of ophthalmologists will visit areas affected by the accident Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as those where there are not enough or no doctors of this profile at all. Diagnosis and provision of ophthalmic care for children will be carried out using the latest equipment, which will identify vision problems in children.

In 2016, the Belarusian Children's Fund and the mobile communications company Velcom carried out a similar project in the Mogilev region. About 13 thousand children of preschool and school age were examined, visual impairments were detected in 27.3% of children. These figures speak of the effectiveness and importance of the work done.

In the Gomel region, the examination of children's vision is also necessary, which was told yesterday at a press conference by the participants of the project "I see!", which took place in the art gallery of G.Kh. Vashchenko.
The press conference was attended by:
Poroshin Sergey Ivanovich - Head of the Department of Education of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee;
Smirnov Vyacheslav Olegovich - Head of Corporate Communications Department Velcom company;
Chernyakova Irina Alexandrovna - Deputy Director of the Belarusian Children's Fund;
Legkoya Lyudmila Anatolyevna - Head of the Department of Medical Assistance to Children and Mothers of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus;
Chaiko Elena Sergeevna - ophthalmologist of the ME "Mozyr Central City Polyclinic", participant of the charity project "I see";
Rybakova Elizaveta Nikolaevna - ophthalmologist of the State Health Institution "Gomel Central Children's Clinical Polyclinic", participant of the charitable project "I See";
media

The organizers and participants of the project talked about how and where mobile teams of doctors will work, showed the equipment used for vision diagnostics. Within the framework of the project, work has already been carried out in the Buda-Koshelev and Zhitkovichi districts of the region. The competent organization of the process on the ground was noted. It is also important that not only education departments and school administrations are responsible for this project, but parents also try to be present at the doctor's appointment with their child. During the examination, specific recommendations are given to each child, and, if necessary, prescriptions for glasses and medicines are issued. If there is a complex eye disease, then children are sent for consultations and in-depth diagnostics to regional and republican centers.

Smirnov Vyacheslav Olegovich, head of the corporate communications department at Velcom, said that the company pays all expenses from its own funds, which they collect through the traditional charitable Christmas campaign "Doing good is so easy!".

Until the end of the year, mobile teams of doctors are also examining children in Vetka, Dobrush, Kormyansky, Loevsky, Chechersky, Braginsky, Yelsky, Lelchitsky, Narovlyansky, Petrikovsky, Oktyabrsky, Khoiniki districts.

After the official part of the press conference, the project participants answered questions from the media, and ophthalmologists showed the operation of the equipment in action.

Charity project "I see!" is a great example of public-private partnership for the benefit of our healthy future! Good luck!