BAGUIO CITY – Do not let small children play with electronic gadgets as a scientific study proved that it can be harmful to their eyes.
Dr. Eulina Lagdao of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) stressed this during the Department of Health-sponsored media forum at the DOH Regional Training Center on August 19.
Lagdao explained that next only to cataract, error of refraction is the second common eye illness. This is now a health concern among children with the advent of electronic gadgets either for games or program viewing. Long exposure or staring for a long time at the gadgets screen can easily strain the eyes of children.
Lagdao, who is also an official of the Baguio Eye Health Team – a consortium of public and private institutions and health practitioners, disclosed that the country is a prime mover of the Vision 2020, an international collaboration initiated by World Health Organization that aims to eliminate avoidable blindness.
For the Baguio Eye Health Team, Lagdao said they are pushing to enhance community participation in the achievement of Vision 2020. In partnership with the Baguio Health Services Office, the team is conducting trainings for barangay health workers on how they can identify eye problems.
Next to be trained are nurses including those of the Department of Education and midwives.
Sight Saving Month is among the health observance that the DOH and its partners promote in the month of August./JDP/CCD – PIA CAR
