By Michael Ofulue ,Osogbo

The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has directed Osun Health Insurance Agency to carry out comprehensive eye check-up of all students in the State Public Primary and Secondary Schools.

This will be done in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education.

The concept of Imole School Health is born out of the fact that not all students who are not performing optimally academically are really intellectually poor.

“Quite a good number of them have challenges with their visions which make them not to be able to see what the teacher writes on the board or even demonstrates in front of the class.

” A lot of them strain and squeeze their eyes, but yet they would not be able to see well, the result of which is poor academic performance. Many of these students and their parents don’t realise that visual challenges are the basis of poor academic outcome.

According to the Executive Secretary, Osun Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Rasaq Akindele, the Governor was so compassionate about the health of all the good people of the state and will not leave any stone unturned to achieve good health for the people of the state.

“His Excellency has directed us at Osun Health Insurance Agency to carry out comprehensive eye check-up of all students in the State Public Primary and Secondary Schools.

“This will be done in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education. There are three hundred and forty-five thousand pupils and students in these schools and all of them will be screened and examined; those with refractive errors will be provided with corrective spectacles, those that needs drugs will be given and those whose conditions necessitate surgical interventions will be accorded the opportunity. Our children must see well, Imole must prevail in Osun State.

“The training of the school teachers who will carry out the screening will commence on Thursday February 20, 2025. Thereafter, there will be school based screening of the pupils using Visual Acquity Chat will commence on the February 24 to 26. From February 27 to March 7, refraction and provision of glasses, provision of drugs, and corrective surgeries will be carried out.

“We want to implore the parents and guidance to please avail their children and wards this rare opportunity of the Imole School Eye Health. Such has never been done before and it will take another visionary leader to do it again.

“We also appeal to all Personnel involved in the exercise, our loving teachers, OSHIA staff, and the medical experts to see this as call to serve humanity, the reward of which is tremendous in this world and the hereafter.

“You will recall that this is not the first public health intervention that peoples’ governor has embarked on. Last year, over 25,000 pensioners were enrolled to benefit from free health insurance, same goes for the people with disabilities where over 10,000 have been enrolled in the Osun Insurance Scheme, OHIS. “