The NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH) is a partner in the VER+ project (Valuing, Educating, and Promoting Responsibility for Visual Health), an innovative initiative aimed at promoting early detection and control of myopia in adolescents from the municipalities of Covilhã and Fundão.
The project, supported by Portugal Social Innovation and co-financed by European Union Funds, is led by the University of Beira Interior (UBI), the Aldeia dos Girassóis Association, and NOVA NSPH, with the support of the municipal councils of Covilhã and Fundão and other local partners.
With a total funding of €281,000, the VER+ programme aims to reach over 200 adolescents in the 5th and 6th years of basic education, providing assessment, correction, and continuous follow-up of visual needs, as well as health education and the promotion of visual self-care.
NOVA NSPH participates in the project through Cristina Godinho, a faculty member, who is part of the scientific and coordination team. Her contribution focuses on evaluating the impact of interventions, monitoring visual health behaviours, and supporting the development of educational and communication strategies that promote health literacy among young people and their families.
“The VER+ project is an excellent example of how public health can act in an integrated way, close to communities, with a direct impact on quality of life and educational success. Myopia is a global epidemic that continues to rise, and investing in prevention and visual education is investing in the future health and wellbeing of new generations”, says Cristina Godinho, professor at NOVA NSPH.
Through this participation, NOVA NSPH reinforces its commitment to community-focused projects and social innovation, placing health promotion and equity at the centre of public intervention, contributing to sustainable local policies based on scientific evidence.
