By Ivy Yohane

Blantyre, September 28 Mana: Blantyre Institute for Community Outreach (BICO) is making strides in promoting eye health among learners in Blantyre through a campaign under the theme; Children, Love Your Eyes.

BICO Optometrist, Hendrine Nyondo, said on Friday during the campaign at Catholic Institute (CI) Primary School that children need to be taught ways of caring eyes and sign and symptoms of eye infection.

“Itching of eyes, white or yellow sticky discharges, difficulties to see at a distance, difficulties with near vision and headaches during the day are some of the signs that your eyes have been affected.

“Washing your eyes will help to reduce itching in the eyes. You should be more hygienic so that you can avoid eye diseases. For those who have difficulties to see at a distance and difficulties with near vision l advise you to visit a doctor so that you can be given glasses,” she advised the learners.

In line with the theme, BICO is selling glasses to children at a reduced price of 50 percent discount.

CI Primary School teacher, Angella Kachoka, said most parents have no time to know their children’s eyes to detect problems associated with eyes.

“It is very important for organizations like BICO to teach children how to take care of their eyes, as many of them do not have information about health and eye care,” she said.

Apart from CI, BICO had already held mobile eye talks to school such as Blantyre Girls and Zingwangwa.