Headline Australian NGO, Quezon Provincial government to offer free eye center services for MediaTitle Manila Bulletin(www.mb.com.ph) Date 19 Jul 2019 Section NEWS Order Rank 1 Language English Journalist N/A Frequency Daily Australian NGO, Quezon Provincial government to offer free eye center services for By Danny Estacio LUCENA CITY, Quezon- An Australian non-government organization (NGO) and the Quezon province headed by Governor Danilo Suarez will put up an eye center intended for indigent residents of the province at the Quezon Medical Center (QMC) starting on July 31, here. The Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) led by country manager Remedios Mapa-Suplido and the Quezon Provincial government agreed to partner in providing free eye care services for the less privileged individuals from indigent groups (IP), Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program ( 4P’s) recipients, senior citizens and students enrolled in public schools as the principal beneficiaries of FHF.Quezon is one of the four provinces in the country chosen by the foundation for their Community Eye Health Program (CEHP) implemented with the Department of Health (DOH). The other provinces were Negros Oriental, Mindoro Oriental, and Antique. The CEHP Quezon has done various steps to enhance the needs of the program in preparation for its upcoming launch, said Provincial Health Officer II, Dr. Grace V. Santiago, who will be heading the said program. Santiago said that selected students who passed the screening by the Department of Education-Quezon will be the first batch of patients on the inauguration for necessary check-up and eyeglasses for free. The first eye clinic inaugurated this year was in The Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose De Buenavista, Antique last June 14. Aside from providing training on eye screening for health personnel of provincial hospitals FHF intends to train even barangay health workers (BHW’s) in the province. With the help of FHF, Dep-Ed, DOH, and other partner agencies, the ophthalmology center will get enough assistance with the help of newly hired ophthalmologists in the province. .