Absence of parental consent plagues Vision Eye Care Program

A student receives attention under the program but many parents are not signing consent forms

Coordinator of the School Vision & BMI Programme “I Can See Clearly Now”, Nurse Joan Henry, has lamented the fact that parents and guardians are not signing consent forms that will give their children the go ahead to receive much-needed eye examinations and care.

The Ministry of Health and Environment together with the Ministry of Education launched the project in 2016 which aims to detect vision issues, namely blindness and refractive errors, in students 18 years and under in Dominica.

But many students are left unattended because parents or guardians are not signing consent forms for them.

“My main challenge is parents having to sign the consent forms,” Henry stated.

She said at one primary school only 60 out of 191 students were screened because there were no consent forms for the others.

“These children are not assessed. Lists of the children whose parents have not consented are given to the secretary at the school so that the children’s parents could be contacted. The children are also told to tell their parents to come to sign the consent forms if they want them to participate because we will not do a second level that may need intervention on a child particularly in the primary school,” she said.

Henry has urged parents to get the consent forms signed because not doing so forms a hindrance to the successful completion of assessing the students from all the targeted schools.

“We have not completed Saint Mary’s Primary (SMP), St. Martin’s Primary, and Convent Prep because all the consent forms have not been signed by the parents…If you would like your child to participate in this program, please contact the school, the list is there, and have the consent form read and signed,” she remarked.

At a cost of E.C. $1-million, and sponsored by the Government of Cuba and funds from the Citizenship by Investment Program, the ‘I Can See Clearly’ program targets primary school students and 5th form secondary school students initially and then moves on to the rest of the school population.

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12 Comments

  1. June 14, 2017

    Maybe she needs Johnny Nash to give her consent, “I can see clearly now”.

  2. tellme
    June 14, 2017

    I do concur with Nurse Henry’s point. But i must also remind Nurse that when she did the promotion she assured parents that at the screening parents will be invited. My daughter was checked without her parents presents….fine. But for the Drs to tell the child that she needs surgery is taking it too far….an audience with the parents to discuss that part was not even sought. If needs be I would have met them at their convenience.

  3. tph
    June 14, 2017

    I am one of the parents who did sign the consent form and has a son attending St. Mary’s Primary. I don’t see why the doctors cannot see my son and other students whose parents’ have signed the form. The other parents do NOT want their sons to be seen by the doctors, and that’s fine. There should be no complaining about this.

    Peter should not PAY for Paul.

  4. TPH
    June 14, 2017

    I am one of the parents who did sign the consent form and has a son attending St. Mary’s Primary. I don’t see why the doctors cannot see my son and other students whose parents’ have signed the form. The other parents do NOT want their sons to be seen by the doctors, and that’s fine. There should be no complaining about this.

    Peter should not PAY for Paul.

  5. analy thomas
    June 14, 2017

    Good morning Dominica! I want you to know that Christ Jesus is alive and well! He will soon be coming back! Let us not bash each other but work together for the sake of God as a commandment! Please remove the obstacles before you, so that when your neighbors see how balanced you walk, they will crave to walk that path after you! Let them see the good through your actions.
    We get sick because of sin. If we seek to walk in the ways that Jesus has commanded, All things and i mean All things will fall in line. Is there anything too hard for the lord?
    Parents, love God first, then people. Take care of each other for we are not here for ever. Those of us who understand our purpose here, let’s do it without ceasing for our time is quickly approaching. He Will show up.
    Praise the name of Jesus.

  6. Diaspora
    June 14, 2017

    In all honesty, it is illegal for medical personnel to examine children without parents or legal guardians present…even in Dominica. The parents have a right not to sign the form if they cannot be assured that a teacher will be present for each individual examination.

  7. Let The Truth Be Known - Original
    June 13, 2017

    Today some parents reside out of town. They must travel to Roseau to sign the form.
    In addition, some parents may be employed and are not able to get the time off. Is it possible to give the children the consent form and have the parents sign it?
    We hope all parents can read and write. No pun intended. High school especially is opened to every child, not as it were in those days when only parents who could afford it sent their children to high school and other schools as well.
    You should try another strategy to have those consent forms signed with the only premise that their children will receive this important eye care testing.

  8. I Love Dominica
    June 13, 2017

    Some parents would put political bias before their children. They would rather not sign because it’s not their party in power. So sad.

  9. zandoli
    June 13, 2017

    Offer the parents free tickets for a sewo when they sign off. I bet you will get 99% compliance from them.

    • Hey
      June 13, 2017

      Just so you know….I am one of the parents who did not sign the consent form since I usually take my child to Dr Williams for his yearly check-up. Is that a problem ?

      • Proud Dominican
        June 14, 2017

        I applaud you for making sure your child is checked on a yearly basis, BUT you could at least return the form stating just that. Doing nothing and saying nothing gives the school the wrong impression.

      • Oh Lawd
        June 14, 2017

        Nothing wrong with having your child get checked by the Cuba doctors. It gives the school an idea of your child’s vision. Plus, there are things Dr Williams may not see that the Cubans may see. So….you make no sense whatsoever!

        My son uses glasses, however I did give consent because nothing is wrong with a second opinion!

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