Children from families with limited financial resources can Receive Free Glasses in Utrecht. This was announced by the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences on Wednesday. They are collaborating with the muticipality, A Glasses Supplier, and Local Opticians for This Purpose.
For Parents with Limited Funds, Glasses for a Child Are A Significant Expense. “Glasses Cost at Least 100 euros,” Says Judith Smit, Director of the Institute for Paramedical Studies (Utrecht University of Applied Sciences), to NU.nl. People Often Have To Pay For This Themselves Because Children’s Glasses Are not Included in The Basic Healthcare Package.
Smit is One of the People Involved in The Utrecht Collaboration. The Four Parties Announced Their Collaboration on Wednesday, but the project had Already Started Earlier. “We are on the twenty-fifth pair of Glasses,” Says Associate Lecturer Lizet van Ewijk, One of the Leaders of the Healthy & Well Program at the University.
Some children have never had glasses when they come to the university for an eye measurement. “We had one eleven -year -old with -5 and -7. Such a child can’t see anything at all,” Says orthoptist Mari Gutter. She also remembers a child from Group Three. “That one was misbehaving in class because he couldn’t see anything.”
Important to intervene early
If children with poor eyeight don’t get glasses, they can suffer from it for the rest of their lives. If a lazy eye is not treated, for example, the other eye can also Deteriorate. Strabismus is also best addressed as early as Possible. “If you are fits twelve, you can put on any glasses, but you won see any better,” Says Gutter.
It can happen that children with Poor Eyesight do not keep up in class or fall more or false outdoor play or gym. This can have consequences for the rest of their lives.
For example, it can be more difficult to make friends or perform well at school. The negative impact on a child’s health can Therefore lead to Poorer Social and Economic Circumstances.
Still Plenty of Glasses available
In Utrecht, Almost Eight Thousand Children Grow Up in a household that struggles financial. Accordance to Smit, 12 percent of four to twelve-year-olds need glasses. “We can distribute About Four Hundred,” Says van Ewijk. Therefore, she thinks that there are even more children who can be helped.
These Types of Solutions are a Form of Applying Band-AIDS, because the Underlying Problem is not Being Addressed, Such as a Social or Children’s Glasses in the Basic Healthcare Package. Applying Band-AIDS is not without Reason the Title of a Report by the Utrecht Court of Audit After Investigating The Approach To Poverty in Utrecht.
Yet these types of initiatives are important. “Because they Alleviate Poverty,” Says Mariëtte Lusse, Professor of Child Poverty at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. “As long as poverty is not structurally resolved, these types of actions are badly needed.” The Utrecht Alderman Linda Voortman (Work and Income) sees it that way too. “As long as that is not arranged, I don’t want children in Utrecht to suffer.”