Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 4: A total of 84,528 primary and high school students in Goa have been screened for refractive vision errors under the school health programme since the 2021–22 academic year.

Officials said the programme, which initially recorded low coverage, saw a significant boost in recent years following intensified efforts by the state government. Over the past six years, refractive errors have been detected in 5,148 students, with 3,811 of them provided free spectacles.

Screening is carried out by specialists and trained technicians. In 2021–22, only 2,928 students from 29 schools were covered. However, the numbers increased to 23,009 students across 288 schools in 2023–24 and further to 30,495 students in 387 schools in 2024–25. By December 2025, another 13,128 students from 175 schools had been screened.

In 2023, the Directorate of Education collaborated with the Directorate of Planning and Statistics to train teachers from government and aided schools with support from Prasad Netralaya. These teachers conducted preliminary screenings for nearly two lakh students, after which shortlisted cases were examined by visiting technicians.

Under the Centre’s school health programme, annual health check-ups are recommended for all students, along with distribution of micronutrients such as vitamin A, iron and folic acid tablets, and deworming medication. However, less than 50 per cent of students from Classes I to VIII in Goa currently receive annual health check-ups.

While iron and folic acid doses have been administered to about 77 per cent of students and deworming tablets to 83 per cent, the coverage for vitamin A supplementation remains low.

Authorities said efforts are ongoing to improve overall health coverage and ensure timely medical intervention for school children across the state.