In his capacity as Patron of the Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association First Gentleman Kerwyn Garcia SC participated in the Walk for Sight 2023 around the Queen’s Park Savannah on Sunday October 15, 2023.
Walk for Sight is an annual event staged by the Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association to bring attention to the needs of the visually impaired.
The annual walk commemorates World Sight Day observed around the world on the second Thursday of October. This year’s theme is Love Your Eyes at Work, focusing on eye health in the workplace.
In his statement issued on World Sight Day, First Gentleman Kerwyn Garcia SC said “Almost every workplace today has some digital component in its workflow. A vast segment of the world’s employees is required to view, on a daily basis, digital images projected on to a screen of one kind or the other. Prolonged screen time at work can lead to ‘digital eye strain’, which in turn often leads to compromised vision. Both can lead to reduced productivity and to mistakes at work. As employees, we can make simple adjustments to our daily work habits to reduce digital eye strain. These include taking frequent breaks, using the ‘20-20-20 rule’ —every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
Employers also have a responsibility to prioritise and protect the eye health of their employees. They should encourage their employees to have their eyes tested regularly; provide appropriate eye protection equipment where necessary; provide adequate training to employees on eye safety and on the proper use of eye protection equipment; and regularly promote good eye health practices in the workplace. Employers should also try to ensure that eye care for their employees is available, accessible and affordable.”
First Gentleman Kerwyn Garcia is happy to lend his support to the Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association in their efforts to raise the profile of the Association and its advocacy on behalf of the visually impaired in this country.
