# INABIE student visual health programs

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/inabie-student-visual-health-programs
> Updated: 2026-10-02T18:02:29.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2.

The National Institute of Student Welfare (INABIE) has implemented visual health programs for students in the Dominican Republic. During the 2025-2026 school year, the institute provided services to 116,269 students to detect vision difficulties that could impact academic performance. This initiative resulted in 5,499 students receiving corrective lenses and several others being referred for specialized care.

Building on these assessments, INABIE has conducted specialized ophthalmic surgeries for students with complex conditions. A recent round of procedures was performed at the Centro Cristiano de Servicios Médicos of the Hospital Doctor Elías Santana, benefiting nine students from various regions, including Pedro Santana, Padre Las Casas, La Vega, Miches, Sánchez, Mao, and Santo Domingo. These surgeries addressed conditions such as strabismus, ocular prosthesis implants, corneal devices, and collagen crosslinking.

To date, the current administration has facilitated 42 such specialized surgeries, covering all medical costs and accommodation for guardians. Dr. Luis Lizardo, Director of Health and Nutrition, emphasized that the institution provides health services beyond food and uniforms, encouraging families to utilize these resources to prevent visual impairments from hindering student development.

## Claims

- INABIE performed specialized visual surgeries on nine public school students. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The surgeries were conducted at the Centro Cristiano de Servicios Médicos, Hospital Doctor Elías Santana. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The medical conditions treated included strabismus, ocular prosthesis implants, corneal devices, and collagen crosslinking. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- A total of 42 students have benefited from these procedures during the current INABIE administration. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- INABIE covers the full cost of the specialized surgeries and the stay of parents or guardians. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-02: Dominican Republic public health reports dental and surgical milestones

The Dominican Republic's SNS reports over 7.3 million dental consultations via public health units, while INABIE has completed specialized eye surgeries for nine public school students.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/inabie-performs-specialized-eye-surgeries-for-nine-public-school-students

### 2026-09-12: INABIE provides visual health services to 116,000 students

INABIE provided visual health services to over 116,000 students during the 2025-2026 school year, providing corrective lenses and performing 30 ophthalmic surgeries to support academic performance.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/inabie-provides-visual-health-services-to-116000-students

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Cite as: INABIE student visual health programs. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/inabie-student-visual-health-programs