Miranza IBO offers ophthalmological check-ups to Saharawi children as part of the Holidays in Peace Project

For two consecutive days (1 and 2 August), Miranza IBO carried out free ophthalmological check-ups for Saharawi children who are taken in by families in Palma during the summer months as part of the Holidays in Peace Project.

The programme was kicked off eight years ago and has helped more than 160 children

This charity programme began in 2014 and, throughout this time, has helped more than 160 children between the ages of ten and twelve. This summer, after a two-year hiatus as a result of the pandemic, the situation has made it possible to resume ophthalmological check-ups under the guidance of Dra. Kyriaki Souki, a specialist in paediatric ophthalmology at Miranza IBO, who has seen around 20 children.

These are children between 10 and 12 years old who are being taken in by families in Palma during the summer

According to the ophthalmologist, “the aim of this initiative is to provide this group of children with decent access to eye health and to identify possible conditions in order to treat them or prevent complications.” Therefore, those children who, as a result of the check-ups, require treatment to correct a refractive error, will also get free glasses, thanks to the agreement that Miranza IBO has reached with Opticalia Lux in Palma to provide the prescription lenses and frames.

Holidays in Peace

Sahara Ponent’s Holidays in Peace Project provides summer care for Saharawi children who during the school year live with their families in refugee camps near the Algerian city of Tindouf, one of the most bleak areas of the Sahara desert. In addition to eye check-ups, medical check-ups and nutritional analyses are carried out during the children’s stay in Spain.