(Second row, from left) Asrama Kasih YBK chairman Datin Hartini Osman (wearing pink headscarf), Zainal, Prof Haliza and Selvam with students who received their spectacles. – Photos: ONG SOON HIN/The Star
STRAINING from being unable to see clearly will hold back students from performing their best in school, especially those who are unable to afford spectacles.
A contact lens manufacturer, Maxvue Vision Sdn Bhd, collaborated with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) Health Sciences Faculty to provide customised spectacles to 80 underprivileged children.
The spectacles were handed over at Asrama Kasih Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan (YBK) in Serendah, Selangor.
Prior to this, UKM’s mobile optometry clinic had made two visits in early December to perform comprehensive eye and ocular disease checks.
During the screening performed by 30 UKM staff, a total of 323 people had their eyes checked.
Those screened included Asrama Kasih YBK residents, their families as well as nearby residents.
After the screening, 80 children and 39 adults were found to be in need of spectacles.
(From left) Selvam assisting Muhammad Dhiya with his new spectacles while Prof Haliza and Zainal look on at Serendah, Selangor.
Thanks to the collaboration between Maxvue Vision and UKM, this need was met.
YBK chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Sakom said many of the children were capable of more.
“But due to poor eyesight, they find it hard to grasp what they are learning and this causes them to perform poorly in school,” he said.
Frames for the spectacles were provided by UKM and through the contributions of individuals and corporations, while the lenses were contributed by Maxvue Vision.
Maxvue Vision founder and chief executive officer Selvam Kanniah said the company had carried out this corporate social responsibility programme throughout Selangor since 2011 to help the underprivileged.
“We are conducting these programmes to help students see better and have a brighter future,” he said.
UKM Health Sciences Faculty deputy dean Prof Dr Haliza Abdul Mutalib hoped the students would benefit from having better vision with the spectacles provided.
The UKM mobile optometry clinic started in 2012 and has conducted numerous programmes including comprehensive eye and ocular disease checks across Malaysia.
One of the students who received the spectacles, Muhammad Dhiya Uddin, said his ambition is to become a doctor.
“With the glasses, I can see what the teachers write on the board,” said the Form Two boy.
The spectacles for the 39 adults were delivered at a later date.
The next eye checks will be conducted at Kampung Orang Asli in Tasik Chini in Pekan, Pahang, and Kampung Sungai Melayu in Gelang Patah, Johor, after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
