CAIRO: Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar has emphasized the critical need for the early detection of vision problems among school students, highlighting the initiative as a significant step towards safeguarding children’s health and educational performance.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Minister Abdel Ghaffar made these remarks during a visit to a school in the Gharbia governorate, located in the Nile River delta region of Lower Egypt. The visit was part of an initiative named ‘Our children’s eyes are our future,’ which aims to address vision health among school-aged children. The health minister praised the success of the initiative’s first and second phases and advocated for its expansion to all governorates across the country.

Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif supported the initiative, stating that it demonstrates the government’s dedication to ensuring a healthy and safe learning environment. He noted that identifying vision problems early enables quicker and more effective treatment. Both ministers also assessed the performance of medical teams tasked with collecting student data and conducting eye screenings, ensuring that students receive high-quality medical attention.

The initiative is designed to facilitate the early detection and treatment of vision impairments and vision loss causes. It focuses on examining and treating primary school students nationwide, aiming to improve their overall health and academic success.