HARIANKALTIM.COM — Pemerintah Provinsi Kalimantan Timur melalui Dinas Kesehatan (Dinkes) bersama Tim Penggerak PKK dan Yayasan Indonesia Melihat Nasional (YIMN) menggelar program pemeriksaan mata massal dan pembagian 2.000 kacamata gratis bagi warga.
Kegiatan ini berlangsung di Balai Pelatihan Kesehatan (Bapelkes) Kaltim, Jalan R.W. Monginsidi, Samarinda, Sabtu (14/06/2025). Program ini menjadi bagian dari rangkaian peringatan Hari Kesatuan Gerak (HKG) PKK Nasional ke-53.
Dari total bantuan, 1.000 merupakan kacamata koreksi dan 1.000 lainnya kacamata baca. Distribusinya difokuskan di Kota Samarinda dan Balikpapan, dengan jumlah terbanyak dialokasikan untuk Samarinda.
“Data menunjukkan gangguan penglihatan sering terjadi tapi tak tertangani karena kurangnya kesadaran dan akses. Padahal, ini bisa memengaruhi kualitas hidup, termasuk prestasi belajar anak-anak,” kata Kepala Dinas Kesehatan Kaltim, Jaya Mualimin.
Mengacu pada Survei Kesehatan Indonesia tahun 2023, disabilitas penglihatan di Kalimantan Timur mencapai 0,6 persen. Namun hanya 4,2 persen warga usia di atas 6 tahun yang menggunakan alat bantu penglihatan.
Menurut Jaya, rendahnya angka ini menunjukkan kebutuhan program serupa masih sangat besar, terutama di sekolah dan lingkungan masyarakat berpenghasilan rendah.
“Kami berharap program ini tak berhenti di momentum HKG saja. Kegiatan seperti ini harus masuk ke program rutin, terutama di sekolah dan posyandu,” ujarnya.
Sebanyak 450 peserta menjalani pemeriksaan mata di hari pertama. Mereka berasal dari berbagai latar usia dan telah disaring melalui puskesmas serta kader posyandu sebelumnya. Pemeriksaan dilakukan oleh tim refraksionis dari RS Mata dan IROPIN.
Rangkaian kegiatan ini akan dilanjutkan pada 21 Juni 2025 di Puskesmas Baqa dan ditutup dalam acara puncak HKG PKK pada 8 Juli mendatang di Samarinda Convention Hall.
Dinkes Kaltim juga tengah merancang program jangka menengah yang memungkinkan pemeriksaan mata menjadi agenda tahunan sekolah melalui kolaborasi dengan Dinas Pendidikan.
“Kesehatan mata bukan hanya urusan medis. Ini soal akses, soal kesetaraan. Jangan sampai ada anak yang tertinggal di kelas hanya karena tidak bisa melihat papan tulis,” tegas Jaya.(ZYN/ADV/DISKOMINFO)
ENGLISH VERSION
The Provincial Government of East Kalimantan, through the Health Office (Dinkes), in collaboration with the PKK Mobilization Team and the Indonesia Sees National Foundation (YIMN), held a mass eye screening program and distributed 2,000 free glasses to residents.
The event took place at the East Kalimantan Health Training Center (Bapelkes) on R.W. Monginsidi Street, Samarinda, on Saturday (June 14, 2025). This program is part of the 53rd National Family Welfare Movement (HKG PKK) anniversary celebration.
Of the total glasses distributed, 1,000 were prescription glasses and the remaining 1,000 were reading glasses. Distribution focused on the cities of Samarinda and Balikpapan, with the largest share allocated to Samarinda.
“Data shows that vision problems are common but often go untreated due to lack of awareness and access. Yet this can affect quality of life, including children’s academic performance,” said Jaya Mualimin, Head of the East Kalimantan Health Office.
According to the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey, visual impairment in East Kalimantan affects 0.6 percent of the population. However, only 4.2 percent of residents aged six and above use visual aids.
Jaya noted that this low figure highlights a significant need for similar programs, especially in schools and low-income communities.
“We hope this program doesn’t stop with the HKG event. Activities like this should be included in regular programs, particularly in schools and community health posts,” he added.
On the first day, 450 participants underwent eye screenings. They came from various age groups and had been pre-screened through community health centers and local health volunteers. The examinations were conducted by a team of refractionists from the Eye Hospital and IROPIN (Indonesian Optometry Association).
The series of activities will continue on June 21, 2025, at Baqa Community Health Center and will conclude at the peak event of the HKG PKK celebration on July 8 at the Samarinda Convention Hall.
The East Kalimantan Health Office is also designing a medium-term program to incorporate annual school-based eye exams in collaboration with the Education Office.
“Eye health is not just a medical issue. It’s about access, about equity. No child should fall behind in school just because they can’t see the board,” Jaya emphasized. (ADV/RED4-Z5/b)