VCM
Myopia (Short-sightedness) is an ocular disorder that has major health and socio-economic significance in many East-Asian urban cities. In Singapore, the prevalence of myopia is one of the highest in the world. We must not be resigned to this but to take positive measures for improving the overall eye health of the community in Singapore. For this reason, the Vision Care Movement (VCM), a non-profit organization, was set up in May 2006 to advocate good vision care and health management amongst the community. Its Mission is as follows:
MISSION
“To promote quality and affordable primary eye care in partnership with eye-care professionals and practitioners so as to make visible difference in public health.” VCM will work with professional primary eye-care and health-care practitioners in the prevention and management of eye health. To carry out is Mission, VCM has set-out the following objectives:
1) To provide subsidized primary eye-care to the poor and needy within the community in Singapore.
2) To help reduce the high incidence of myopia amongst the general public in Singapore.
3) To make available the highest level of quality and professional primary eye-care to the community.
4) To develop and advocate the highest level of professional primary eye-care practices.
5) To be an integral and vital part of the health-care infrastructure in Singapore and the region.
To achieve its objectives, VCM will reach out to the community to increase awareness and promote primary eye-care as an important aspect of primary health care. This will be achieved through talks, seminars, workshops, courses and exhibitions, amongst others. The public will be educated on the importance of exercising personal responsibility in maintaining good eye-health, including going for regular eye examinations. Financial assistance may be arranged and extended to the poor and needy for such eye examinations.
The first community project undertaken is the ‘Vision Care Hub’, a 24-month interactive learning exhibition hub showcasing the impact of technology, lifestyle, environment and physiology on eye-health. This Hub is presented by the VCM, managed and organised jointly by NEW Optometry and Ocular Care Centre (NOOCC EYE CENTRE) and Converge Technology. The Vision Care Hub is located at NOOCC Eye Centre and this project was launched in December 2006.
It took more than16 months to design, develop, and build this vision care educational learning journey. Vision Care Hub was opened by Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Manpower and Health, on 30 April 2008.
