Page 145 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition May-June 2023
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NEW VISION CENTRES
LAUNCHED IN CHENNAI
The Standard Chartered Global Business long-standing partner of Sightsavers India working
Services (GBS) Private Limited, India has in remote and underserved regions of the country.
collaborated with Sightsavers India to launch two Serving communities will always be at the heart of
new Vision Centres and one Mobile Vision Centre in Standard Chartered.”
Chennai. This has been done with the objective of Sightsavers India CEO, Mr RN Mohanty said,
providing valuable eye health services to the urban “The two new Vision Centres and a Mobile Vision
slum population in the city. Centre in Chennai were launched with the
As per a press release, GBS will be financially objective of reducing the prevalence of visual
supporting the two vision centres and a mobile impairment that aligns with the target set by
vision centre for taking up the challenge to provide the National Programme for the Control of
eye health care in the city for a span of four years. Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI). The
Sightsavers India, a development organisation approach is aligned with the WHO Health Systems
working on avoidable blindness and disability Strengthening framework. The launch of these
inclusion will be partnering with the India Vision initiatives with support from GBS will reduce the
Institute (IVI) for the two Vision Centres. The gap between eye health needs and service delivery
aim is to identify more than 6,000 people with demand by improving access to eye care services
cataract and refer them for surgery, screen over for the underserved population.”
60,000 people for eye care, and dispense more Speaking on the occasion, IVI’s CEO Vinod
than 8,000 spectacles over next four years. Nearly Daniel said, “The vision centres will help make a
2,000 people will also be screened for diabetic positive impact on people’s lives. With a clear vision,
retinopathy. there will be more work opportunities, increased
For the Mobile Vision Centre, Sightsavers India efficiency, and improved productivity. It will also
has collaborated with Sankara Eye Hospital as its make people, particularly the elderly, regain self-
implementing partner. The joint initiative hopes confidence and be less vulnerable to accidents
to refract nearly 30,000 people, dispense 6,000 and falls. Vision screening services and corrective
spectacles, identify more than 4,000 patients for glasses will be available at the vision centres at
cataracts and screen 2,000 people for diabetic affordable prices, and free corrective glasses
retinopathy over a duration of four years. provided to those who are unable to pay. The new
centres will complement our existing vision centre
The van is a fully fitted eye health set-up with a in Palavakkam.”
dedicated team. Using a compact mobile van has
proven to be a very successful approach owing “We have screened some 300,000 people in
to its easy mobility in dense areas, easy access to the Greater Chennai area. More than 90 percent
reach more significant people in their locations of both underprivileged adults and children from
and on-the-spot advanced eye screening services. corporation schools we have vision screened were
first-time users of spectacles. The compliance rate
Head-Sustainability, GBS, Ms Karuna Bhatia said, among them is very high,” he added.
“To ensure accessible eye care for communities
in urban slums, Standard Chartered Global “The Mobile Vision Centre is a force multiplier
Business Services Private Limited has partnered in addressing avoidable and curable visual
with Sightsavers India to take comprehensive impairment. While eye hospitals and static vision
primary eye care services to the doorsteps of centres do provide options for people seeking eye
people and provide affordable eye care services care, the fact that the facility is made available
to marginalised urban communities. The focus literally at one’s doorstep is bound to encourage
is on early detection of eye ailments, referral, timely eye care-seeking behaviour,” said Trustee &
and appropriate treatment. Standard Chartered Executive Director, Sankara Eye Hospital, Pammal,
through its Seeing is Believing project has been a Wg Cdr V Shankar (Retd).
NEWS IN BRIEF THE INDIAN OPTICIAN | MAY-JUNE 2023 | 141
