TIRANA, Nov 26 /ATA/ – Albania has screened more than 232,000 schoolchildren for dental and vision problems during the current academic year as part of a nationwide early-detection programme, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.
The Ministry said 132,764 pupils had received dental checks and 102,201 had been screened for vision issues in the 2024–2025 school year, aiming to improve early diagnosis and promote healthier development.
Albania’s National Screening Programme provides preventive health services inside schools. Entela Sterkeshi, a doctor at Vasil Shanto School in Tirana, said the school’s medical unit has long offered health education, individual consultations and classroom sessions in cooperation with teachers and psychologists.
She said vision screening is carried out every two years for pupils in grades 3, 5, 7 and 9. Between September and November, 538 children were screened at the school, with 69 referred to specialist doctors.
The national vision-screening programme was introduced in 2022 and includes three stages, starting with an assessment at birth followed by a second evaluation in the child’s first year. It foresees a national registry of childhood vision problems based on approved health protocols.
A parallel dental-screening programme targets children aged 6 – 14 and aims to establish dental units in schools, while mobile dental teams provide services in rural areas.
The Health Ministry said 269,612 dental visits were carried out nationwide in 2024, including 66,456 screenings and 11,969 visits in school clinics. A total of 62,161 therapeutic procedures were performed, ranging from sealants and fillings to extractions and cleanings.
During the 2023-2024 school year, 86,007 vision screenings were completed, with 9,815 children referred to specialists – an 18.8% rise in screenings and a 23.7% increase in referrals. Officials said the trend reflects expanded coverage and improved identification of children needing further evaluation.
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