Sightsavers India, with the support of Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd. (Chola) as its corporate partner and CL Gupta Eye Institute formally launched its Rural Eye Health Programme in Sambhal district as a High Impact (HI) model to address avoidable blindness in rural communities.
The event marked a key milestone with the announcement that five Gram Panchayats — Riwara, Jhukera, Nandpur, Lawar and Devar Kanchan — in Junawai block have been declared Cataract Backlog Blindness Free (CBBF) since the programme began All identified cataract cases were screened, referred and operated upon, making these Panchayats free from cataract backlog blindness.
The program was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Dr Rajendra Pensiya, District Magistrate of Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh, who also launched a free eye camp on the occasion. In his address to the gathering, Dr. Pensiya urged everyone to contribute towards building a happy and aware nation and also expressed his gratitude to C.L. Gupta Eye Institute, Sightsavers India and Cholamandalam Finance Limited for this campaign and initiative to eliminate cataract-induced blindness.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Arun Pathak, who was present at the event, felicitated the village heads (Sarpanch) with certificates for their significant contribution in freeing five Gram Panchayats from cataract-induced blindness. The Sambhal Rural Eye Health Programme aims to reduce the prevalence of bilateral cataract blindness to 0.3% in selected blocks within five years.
With a target of more than 16,750 screenings and 2,850 cataract surgeries, the programme aims to strengthen rural eye health systems, conduct outreach camps, train health workers and PRI members and establish sustainable partnerships between hospitals
and the Government to ensure a lasting impact. RN Mohanty, CEO, Sightsavers India and Narendra Kumar N-Executive Vice President-Head CSR , Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd were also present.
