Smiles and sighs of relief filled the Ministry of Health’s Headquarters on High Street on Monday morning, as more than one hundred people collected their long-awaited prescription glasses, part of the government’s ongoing effort to make vision care accessible to all.

The initiative, which began as a promise during the Ministry’s massive Health Fair in June 2025, is now becoming a reality for hundreds who underwent eye screenings and were diagnosed with vision problems.

The Health Fair, held at the Multi-Purpose Cultural and Exhibition Centre in collaboration with United Hands Incorporated and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, saw thousands of citizens taking advantage of free medical, dental, and optical services. Those found in need of glasses were later invited to collect them at no cost, courtesy of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.

While single-lens and bifocal glasses are being given entirely free, persons opting for progressive lenses are only asked to contribute $75, a symbolic sum compared to the average $2,000 price tag.

Health officials say more than 500 pairs will be distributed in total by the end of the week, describing the programme as part of the Ministry’s broader push toward equitable, community-based healthcare.

Distribution continues today (Tuesday) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Ministry’s Headquarters. Those who were prescribed glasses at the June fair are encouraged to collect theirs and must present a valid photo ID.

One ministry official summed up the spirit of the effort simply: “It’s about restoring sight and restoring dignity, one pair of glasses at a time.”