AIM

To satisfy the primary and advanced eye care needs of the rural population of thousands of villages of Bharuch, Nandod, Surat and Vadodara districts and border areas of Maharashtra. A unique, comprehensive eye programme that encompasses all components of eye care, prevention, promotion & rehabilitation was born out of community need.

METHOD

The programmes include state of the art treatment of eye diseases by advanced types of equipment in the hospital and Netra Raksha Kendra for tertiary eye care. Arrangements were made for operations by microsurgeries like retinal surgeries and intraocular lens placement for cataracts. The hospital has modern operating rooms with operating microscopes, Diode & Yag lasers, an autorefractor, Phaco-emulsification & automated perimeter. Diagnostic eye camps are organised once a week in interior villages of Bharuch, Narmada, Surat & Vadodara districts. As a result, people get treatment & spectacles near their homes. Patients with cataracts are identified and brought to the hospital at Jhagadia to get operated on. In addition, spectacles are made available on the hospital campus and in camps through the optical shop at a low cost.

Under the aegies of a comprehensive Blind rehabilitation Programme, adult and children with incurable blindness were given training for social mobility, education and youth were trained for economic rehabilitation. 956 clients have been rehabilitated economically. Many of them have been provided with interest-free loans by SEWA Rural. More than one million population from Jhagadia, Valia, Dediapada Sagbara, Nandod Ankleshwar and Hansot blocks has been covered in this project.

IMPACT

1,27,000 people gained eyesight from various eye operations. Jhagadia & Valia blocks were made cataract free as per WHO guidelines. We prepared a manual & a video DVD in English & Gujarat on “Operation theatre Protocol” based on our protocol & scientific expertise; it is used widely countrywide.