For the third time she was admitted to the hospital because her contact lenses had caused injuries to her corneas.

Getting a pair of glasses to compensate her sight impairment had become almost impossible as she lived in the rural town of Majibacoa.

All of a sudden, things changed for the better. A modern optician’s shop opened in her hometown and Lisandra obtained her new glasses just in time to begin the school year.

But this was not the work of a miracle. In January 2004, the Cuban government launched a program to provide all the country’s municipalities with modern optician’s shops in an effort to bring this essential healthcare service close to all communities.

In the Las Tunas municipality of Majibacoa with a population of just over 41,000 inhabitants, over 4,900 people have been assisted thanks to this new program.

According to Nelvis Escobar Sosa, manager of Majibacoa´s optician’s shop, the center has prioritized attention to educators and students, visually-impaired children and people benefited by social security.

Previously, Escobar explained, people living in remote communities had to travel long distances to receive optical services. All too often they also had to wait for a long time or the solution to their problem was never available.

He noted that now, many people’s vision has improved and likewise their quality of life.

By: Periodico26