Advocacy Meeting upon Eye Health

21 February 2023, Hazaribagh: An advocacy meeting with key stakeholders held at NBJK under Rural Eye Health Programme with support of Sightsavers, NPCB, NRHM and JSLPS. This was participated by representatives from media, corporate and NGOs along with Sahia didis, DPOs & PRIs members.

Initially Mr. Kirti Rawat (DPC-REHP) introduced about the programme with its activities & achievements. He said that by attaching Vision Centres with CHCs, providing eye checkup devices at health centres and organizing screening camps at remote villages, we are trying to reach marginalized people suffering from eye diseases, particularly cataract and ensure their surgery at eye dept. of Sadar hospital and LNJP eye hospital (Bahera, Chouparan).

Mr. Shankar Choudhary (Retd. Eye Officer, DBCS) has discussed about simple testing methods for cataract and glaucoma without any equipment. From Sightsavers, Mr. Karunanidhi (DPM, Chatra) updated regarding eye pressure, symptoms of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and treatment support through Ayushman card while Ms. Nidhi Kshetri (DPC-Social Inclusion) has informed about the entitlements realization initiatives for visually impaired and other challenged persons.

Media-persons Mr. Murari Singh and Mr. Niranjan Kumar, who were invited in the meeting, assured cooperation by describing the eye health program in public interest. Also representatives of the NGOs like Divya Jyoti Sanstha, Drishti Foundation-Ramgarh, SHARK, GT Bharat, Janseva Parishad, Piramal Foundation etc. were also present on the occasion.

It was agreed to work with mutual cooperation over the activities like public awareness, organizing check-up camps and transport facilities in remote areas under REHP.