Opposition Senator Leila de Lima has filed a measure seeking to institutionalize a National Sight Strategy to address the prevalence of vision defects, including blindness, in the country. 1709 or the National Sight Strategy Plan Act as she underscored concerns over the serious and negative impact that vision defects pose to the citizenry. Under her proposed measure, the Department of Health (DOH) will be mandated to formulate a National Sight Strategy that should address the collection, collation, organization and publication of data and statistics on the incidence and prevalence of vision abnormalities. The DOH should also lead in the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to address vision health issues, including the conduct of public education promoting and improving vision health at all ages. “This proposed measure seeks to address the need to strengthen vision care in the country,” De Lima said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 11, 2018 02:15 UTC