Cabinet focuses on improving services for the visually impaired

Visually impaired residents in Antigua and Barbuda are set to receive some much-needed TLC as 30 experts will take part in eye testing across the island.

An NGO from the US will be conducting testing of the eyes of every resident, young and elderly, within a zone and, if required, provide free eyeglasses and cataract removal; the NGO would also test for glaucoma and other eye diseases, and provide medicines at no cost.

The first zone would be defined from Big Creek to Old Road; the next zone would continue through John Hughes Swetes and St. Paul.

Additional information as to the timeline and venue will be announced later by the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, those persons who use seeing eye dogs will soon get some relief regarding the issue of stray dogs who could cause serious harm to their trained canines.

The concern was raised by Dr. Robins during a visit to Cabinet this week alongside other officials from the Industrial Workshop for the Blind.

The Dog Control Act provides the solution, but the law is not enforced, he asserted.

Dr. Robins trains guide dogs.

A guide dog is superior to a white cane—the latter being the usual method employed by most blind men and women in Antigua; however, a seeing-eye dog is far superior for re-gaining independence, for living alone, and for alerting the non-seeing person of an emergency.

Many blind Antiguans would prefer having a seeing-eye dog, but the animals must be bred and trained here in Antigua.

The need for dog pounds and other methods of control, including the work of the Humane Society, would be self-financing.

The Minister of Health made a pledge to work closely with the team to enhance the possibilities and conditions that would be helpful.

Around 1% of our adult population is completely blind (>950 men and women); >750 adults in addition have very low vision; and 3 out of every 100 children also suffer from very low vision.