الأخبار

That is what optometry students from Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, IIUM learned from their recent visit in 2nd May 2019 to an award-winning integrated school for the blind, Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Hamilton and a non-government, charity-led organisation for visually impaired people known as St. Nicholas’ Home in Georgetown, Pulau Pinang.

St. Nicholas’ Home was established in Klebang, Melaka on 1926 before it was relocated to Georgetown, Pulau Pinang in 1938, the first institution in Malaysia to have started education and rehabilitation for blind and visually impaired people. It was wonderful to see how well the institution is managed and run by multidisciplinary teams like optometrist, physiotherapist, psychologist and many more in supporting visually impaired individuals nationwide in obtaining appropriate and comprehensive educational support and materials, learning vocational skills and getting the most from the rehabilitative care.

Optometry students were given opportunities to explore the facilities provided in the institution, including craft work and pastry units, low vision rehabilitation clinic, Braille library and computer and technology laboratory. They also learned different aspects of low vision rehabilitation service that they can offer to visually impaired people within their locality after they have graduated and embarked into the workforce as a qualified optometrist. Some students had expressed their interest to support and become a volunteer for activities and campaigns organised by St. Nicholas’ Home. This is absolutely a great effort by the students towards educating public about their roles in supporting visually impaired people and promoting inclusive and positive environments for everyone.

Low Vision Clinic is one of the specialised optometry services that has been offered to many patients across Malaysia who require support and vision rehabilitative care since the establishment of the Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences.