The Community Advancement Initiative for Self-Reliance (CAI4SR) on 18 July 2024 conducted a successful community volunteers training session in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. This session was part of the Student Screening Programme in the state which aims to screen 29,000 people and provide 4,190 free glasses.

The training focused on equipping volunteers with essential skills for vision screening and eye health promotion. The event was kicked off by a pretest to evaluate the participants’ initial understanding. Dr. Benjamin a board member of the organisation, provided an overview of CAI4SR, sharing its vision, mission, and previous projects. The Executive Director if the organization, Mrs. Eni Ayeni briefed the participants about the project, explaining that the goal was to screen 29,000 people from six local governments in Kwara State, including 13,000 at the school level and 16,000 at the community level. The project, according to her, will distribute 4,190 free eyeglasses. She however pointed out that it does not cover drugs or surgeries.

Mrs Ayeni outlined the objectives of the meeting to include training volunteers in understanding eye anatomy, recognizing common vision problems, conducting effective vision screenings, documenting and reporting screening results, and engaging the community about eye health.

She emphasized the importance of proper documentation and reporting, teaching volunteers how to accurately record and document their screenings following clear protocols for consistent and reliable data collection.

Mr. Afolayan Ishaq, an ophthalmic nurse, led the training session, starting with an introduction to the eye. The session covered the anatomy and functions of the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, and optic nerve, with simplified explanations to aid their understanding. This was followed by a discussion on common vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Volunteers learned how these issues affect vision and the importance of early detection and treatment.

The training’s highlight was learning how to conduct vision screenings. Mr. Ishaq provided a step-by-step guide on using the Snellen chart and other tools for basic screenings. The Volunteers practicalised these skills during a session, ensuring they felt confident and prepared. Further, they learned strategies for effectively communicating the importance of eye health, inspiring participation in vision screenings, and promoting regular eye examinations.

After the training, participants took a post-test to assess their understanding and expressed their appreciation to CAI4SR and OneSight EssilorLuxottica for the opportunity to contribute to their community through vision screening.