(SINGAPORE, 20 October 2014) – Essilor, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, in association with the Labour Movement’s National Taxi Association (NTA), Health Promotion Board, Singapore Optometric Association (SOA), Singapore Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, launched the second phase of the Taxi Drivers Eye Care Ambassador Programme today. In the second phase, from 20 October to 6 December 2014, 2,000 taxi drivers will receive free eye screening.
Targeted to reach 18,000 members of the NTA in Singapore over three phases, the programme is designed to ensure that Singaporean taxi drivers are made aware of the importance of eye health and are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle and undertake annual eye tests to assess their vision and overall eye health. It is also designed to empower taxi drivers to become Eye Care Ambassadors and, in turn, inform the public of the importance of conducting annual eye tests.
The first phase of the campaign, which was held from 30 June to 7 July, saw 200 members of the NTA receiving a comprehensive eye health check. Among the participants, 50 taxi drivers also received a briefing on the importance of eye care to equip them with information to help communicate the value of receiving annual examinations. Following the success of the initiative earlier this year, Essilor and NTA will be working with SOA, Singapore Polytechnic Optometry Centre (SPOC) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic Optometry Centre (NPOC) for the second instalment of the programme to expand its reach to ten times the number of members in the first phase.
The eye tests will be conducted by optometrists and optometry students to rule out potential blinding eye conditions and diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Drivers will be referred to an appropriate medical practitioner if treatment is required. The eye tests will also determine instances of short- and long-sightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia, leading to the prescription of corrective lenses where necessary.
“Essilor is proud to be working with the NTA to help raise the importance of proper vision care. With as many as 59 per cent of traffic accidents being attributed to poor vision having good eye health is imperative, not only to the safety of drivers and passengers, but also to other road users. With taxi drivers meeting a wide range of passengers daily, we hope they will also serve as “Vision Ambassadors”, sharing the importance of conducting annual eye tests,” said Peter Tan, Managing Director, Essilor Singapore / Malaysia.
“Many taxi drivers spend an average of 10 to 12 hours on the road every day. It is important to stay alert and look after their eye health. We hope that more taxi drivers can realise the importance of keeping themselves healthy through this collaboration, and help to spread this important message across to the taxi community,” said Ang Hin Kee, Executive Advisor, National Taxi Association.
The third phase of the taxi screening will take place from April 2015 onwards, reaching out to the remaining 16,000 members of the NTA. Taxi drivers will be invited to visit www.openyoureyes.com.sg to book their slots for the eye examination and each booking will entitle them to a $100 voucher towards a frame or Essilor lenses. The screening will be conducted at participating optical shops listed in the website.
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