Supporting eye health in the Philippines

Eye health in the Philippine province of Surigao Del Norte just got a boost, thanks to a donation by the SMEC Foundation. The corporate social responsibility arm of SMEC, a member of the Surbana Jurong Group, donated A$16,500 to the School Eye Health Programm in Surigao Del Norte province in southern Philippines. Run in partnership with the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF), the programme aims to help the provincial government to establish affordable eye-health services in the province.

The programme’s efforts include:

• Training students and teachers to create publicity materials and to implement

the communication plan on eye health awareness in public schools

• Training teachers to conduct vision screening for students for the early detection and prevention of eye-related diseases and referral to eye specialists for correction
• Providing eyeglasses to public school students who need them.

Representatives of the SMEC Foundation led by Phillip San Jose (Director of Corporate Services – SEA Division), Aveth Belicena (HR Coordinator – SEA Division) and Karen Discaya (Environmentalist, SMEC Philippines), together with those from FHP Philippines, met with Governor Sol Matugas and other officials during the programme’s kick-off activity. FHF is an Australian non-profit organisation which develops sustainable community eye care services through advocacy and calls for a better nationwide integration of public eye health services.