The launch ceremony of two centers for the protection of primary and middle students' vision and mental health is held in Yinzhou district, Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province on March 13. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

Two centers for protecting primary and middle students' vision and mental health were launched in Yinzhou district, Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province on March 13.

Co-established by the district's education department, health bureau and charity federation, they are the first of their kind in the province that are initiated by a district-level education department, and will bring benefits to the 120,000 students in the district.

A special foundation was also launched to support the operation of the two centers, with 5 million yuan ($745,000) being promised annually to the health checks, educational training and consultation of students at the center, as well as the development of related equipment. 

The vision health center, located in the people's hospital of Yinzhou, will conduct two eye tests for local primary and middle students in spring and autumn, respectively, and establish electronic records of their eyesight to help them prevent shortsightedness. 

The center will also promote vision health education among the public by distributing related pamphlets and organizing regular lectures.

The mental health center, located in the disease prevention and control center of the district, will conduct annual mental health checks for local primary and middle students and keep records of their mental development. 

"We believe that physical and mental health matters more than test scores to students, and their health matters more than academic achievements," said Wang Jianping, director of the local education department. 

"With the high incidence of shortsightedness and mental problems among children and teenagers, it is important that we take immediate actions to protect their vision and mental health," added Wang.