A mobile solution to a growing need

A five-district Rotary partnership has delivered a mobile eye testing unit that will bring free vision screening, early intervention and vital referrals to thousands of children and families across Semarang, Indonesia.

The Rotary Club of Semarang Kunthi, Indonesia, believes in the power of Rotary and embraced its 2025-26 theme of Unite For Good to complete a global grant that was funded by contributions from five districts – D3420, D3410, D3310, D3330 and D9815. The host Rotary club was Semarang Kunthi, with the sponsor international Rotary club being the Rotary Club of Monash Glen Waverley, Vic, supported by the Rotary clubs of Warrandyte Donvale, Oakleigh Clayton Huntingdale and Hampton, all within D9815.

The grant was used to fund a mobile eye testing unit, along with training for maternal health care nurses in eye care and abnormalities undertaken by staff from the William Booth Hospital, who are based in Semarang and who have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding.

The mobile unit will work in the greater Semarang area, visiting villages and schools to carry out free eye checks.

The most common cause of reduced eye function in children is ‘refractive error’, and Indonesia is among the five countries with the largest population experiencing visual impairment. Sadly, 400 out of 1,000 Indonesian children have eye problems or premature refractive errors.

In Central Java Province, school-based screening studies conducted in Semarang demonstrate a marked disparity in myopia (near-sightedness) prevalence between urban (37%) and rural (16%) primary school populations, underscoring a substantial burden of uncorrected refractive error in urban settings. With an estimated population of 37-38 million (2023), national estimates suggest that millions of residents in Central Java require refractive correction and eye health services.

Despite this burden, routine school vision screening programs are inconsistent and lack comprehensive coverage. While the Provincial Eye Health Centre plays a critical coordinating role, its current capacity is insufficient to serve all 35 districts and cities in the province without strengthened referral networks and partnerships with regional hospitals, primary health centres and the private sector.

The goals of the mobile eye testing unit include:

• Improving the capacity of local health care professionals and empowering the capacity of William Booth Hospital and public health.
• Promoting disease prevention and treatment programs that limit the spread of non-communicable diseases and early community eye health examinations.
• Strengthening health care systems. If eye pain or abnormalities are detected in the initial eye health screening, they will be referred for further treatment in coordination with the local health centre.

In Semarang Regency, there are 509 primary schools and 192 junior secondary schools, making a total of 701 schools catering to children and adolescents in 208 villages. In Semarang Regency, there are 26 community health centres each overseeing a defined working area that includes multiple villages and schools.

It is estimated that 2,500 people will be checked and treated annually.

The unit was officially handed over on 11 May at the William Booth Hospital Semarang, Central Java, and was attended by Rotary International Director Jennifer Scott, District Governor Dyah Anggraeni, Past District Rotary Foundation Chair PDG Cindy Bachtiar and PDG Graeme Woolacott, of the Rotary Club of Monash Glen Waverley. The director of the William Booth Hospital and representatives from three levels of government attended, along with numerous Rotarians and staff of the hospital.