Lions across the world have addressed preventable and treatable vision loss through bold and innovative interventions for 100 years, believing they could save sight and improve lives for people of all ages. KidSight emerged from this essential belief, bringing Lions clubs together to ensure children receive eye screenings and the care they need to protect their vision.
I was motivated to get involved with this project when I discovered the importance of preventing childhood blindness.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 17% of school-age children worldwide have vision problems, including issues such as refractive errors like farsightedness. Since early detection is crucial to prevent lifelong vision problems, KidSight has tenaciously expanded to save children’s sight.
Without many comprehensive vision programs in Mexico to identify and treat vision problems in children early enough to prevent prolonged issues, KidSight’s expansion there was a natural next step. The Lions of District B7 wanted to help ensure children have access to proper vision care and were eager to begin a KidSight program locally.
Lion Dr. Angel Sosa says, “I was motivated to get involved with this project when I discovered the importance of preventing childhood blindness. It struck me that, in my country, few health institutions offered this type of screening, leaving children with few opportunities to prevent various vision diseases.”
They utilized a US$45,346 Matching Grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and raised US$7,558 from Cordoba, Poza Rica Dejando Huella and Alamo Lions Clubs to acquire 10 spot vision screeners and 10 printers. With this equipment, they initiated a KidSight campaign to screen children aged four to 14 for vision issues and provide referrals for necessary follow-up care.
Thanks to this campaign, 10 Lions clubs in the district are now able to conduct screenings in approximately 7,449 schools across Veracruz, Mexico. The Lions plan to screen a total of 800 children twice a week, with a focus on screening 153,600 children in low-income communities. Guardians are encouraged to participate in the screening.
If a problem is detected, the child will be referred to a vision care provider. “Both family members and doctors expressed that this project has been immensely helpful,” says Lion Dr. Sosa. “Before, it was very difficult to catch visual problems in children early, and by the time they were diagnosed, it was often too late for effective treatment.” If the family is unable to pay for follow-up care, the hosting Lions club will offer support for glasses or treatment costs.
The Lions have partnered with Vision Toledo and Lyderam and ophthalmology institutions in Veracruz, Mexico, to provide free, vision-related services to at-risk communities since 2018. These partnerships include technical support, training and involvement from ophthalmologists experienced in KidSight projects in Argentina and Colombia. Dr. Sosa highlighted the project’s lasting impact stating, “Lions KidSight Mexico is here to stay and help thousands of children, giving them hope for a better quality of life.”
Visit lionsclubs.org/GrantsToolkit to explore different grant types and learn which one will be most effective for your club’s next project.
Shelby Washington is the content specialist at Lions Clubs International Foundation.
