About 4,000 children from residential institutions will be tested free within the first vision screening program implemented by the National Health Insurance Company. The program is aimed at preventing and detecting early visual impairments in children, IPN reports.

According to a communique of the Company, the screening will be staged between  January and May and covers children’s homes, auxiliary boarding schools, sanatoriums, and special schools for children with physical and mental disabilities from 20 settlements of Moldova.

Last week, ophthalmologists examined about 300 children of the Balti children’s home and the boarding schools for orphans and children who remained without parental care based in Balti and Straseni towns.

The ophthalmologists make the diagnosis and work out the treatment plan, while the doctors from residential institutions will monitor the identified cases and will make sure that the recommended treatment is followed.

The 748,000 lei needed for implementing the vision screening program for children was provided by the National Health Insurance Company.