The visiting Australian Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Hon Jason Wood MP, on Tuesday, distributed free spectacles at an event organized by India Vision Institute (IVI) for underprivileged people at Dooming Kuppam, Santhome High Road, Mylapore, in Chennai.

G Sivakumar, District Program Manager, District Blindness Control Society, K Elisha Madhu Kumar, Country Head and Chief Technology Officer, Amada Soft India, and IVI’s CEO Vinod Daniel were present at the event.

The spectacles distributed are part of IVI’s vision screening campaign for over 4,230 underprivileged people during April-June this year.

Vision screenings were organized in Chennai’s Kodambakkam, Chetpet, Santhome, Injambakkam, Ayyapakkam, Villivakkam, Perumalpattu, Medavakkam, and Velachery.

The campaign is supported by Amada Soft India, a software development company.

The screenings found 2,412 individuals required vision correction, and they will receive free spectacles, with 1,198 referred to hospital for further medical examinations.

Jason Wood represents La Trobe in Victoria state of Australia as a Liberal Party MP in the House of Representatives. 

He said, “I commend India Vision Institute for this great initiative. The work they are doing, providing eye care for the underprivileged community, is very noble, and I wish them to continue this journey throughout India.”

IVI’s CEO Vinod Daniel thanked Jason Wood for participating in the event.

“With improved vision from the IVI campaign, the underprivileged adults become more productive and improve their earning capability. It also helps reduce accidents and falls,” he said.

“Initiatives such as these need the combined efforts of everyone so as to enable us to make a positive impact on  lives, In addition to our work in enhancing the country's Primary Eye Care Capacity by providing access to eye care services for underprivileged Indians and distributing free corrective glasses to those in need, IVI also focuses on advancing the optometry sector through capacity building initiatives, advocacy, and leadership development, as well as supporting young optometrists in career building and upskilling,” Daniel added.