|
The Janakpur Eye Care Center (JECC) was established on 29 September 2023 to provide comprehensive, accessible, and affordable eye care services to the people of the Terai region of Nepal. The center serves a large catchment population across the districts of Dhanusha, Mahottari, Siraha, and Sarlahi, as well as patients from neighboring border areas of India. Since its establishment, the center has experienced a high volume of patients requiring specialized eye care, particularly cataract treatment.
Despite the increasing demand, the center currently lacks a fully equipped surgical unit. Patients diagnosed with cataracts or other surgical eye conditions must be referred to the Ram Kumar Mahabir Prasad Kedia Lions Eye Hospital (REMEH) branch hospital in Dhalkewar for surgery. This referral system creates significant barriers, especially for low-income and marginalized patients who cannot afford transportation, accommodation, or the loss of daily wages. As a result, many patients never receive the sight-restoring surgery they need, leading to preventable blindness, reduced productivity, and diminished quality of life.
Identified Need
A needs assessment conducted by the Janakpur Eye Care Center identified the following critical challenges:
1.High numbers of cataract patients requiring surgery but unable to access treatment locally.
2.Significant loss of follow-up due to financial and transportation barriers.
3.Delays in surgical intervention resulting in avoidable blindness.
4.Lack of essential surgical equipment preventing the center from providing comprehensive eye care.
5.Limited access to quality surgical services for women, elderly people, and marginalized communities.
Establishing a fully functional surgical unit at JECC will address these challenges by enabling patients to receive cataract and other minor eye surgeries within their own community.
How the Project Will Meet the Need
This project will establish a modern eye surgical unit capable of performing cataract and other sight-restoring surgeries at Janakpur Eye Care Center. The project will procure and install essential ophthalmic surgical equipment, strengthen sterilization facilities, improve patient recovery infrastructure, and provide staff training to ensure safe and high-quality surgical services.
Within two years of operation, the center expects to:
1.Perform at least 2,000 cataract and minor eye surgeries annually.
2.Reduce referral-related patient loss by 70%.
3.Improve early diagnosis and management of glaucoma and other eye diseases.
4.Build the capacity of ophthalmic assistants and nursing staff through surgical support and sterilization training.
5.Increase equitable access to eye surgery for women and disadvantaged populations.
6.Reduce avoidable blindness and improve the quality of life and economic productivity of thousands of beneficiaries.
Use of Project Funds
Grant funds will be used exclusively for establishing the eye surgical unit, including the purchase and installation of essential medical equipment and facility improvements, including:
1.Non-Contact Tonometer (NCT)
2.Operating Microscope
3.Biometry Machine
4.A/B Scan Ultrasonography Unit
5.Autoclave and Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) equipment
6.Patient recovery beds and nursing station equipment
7.Backup power supply (inverter/generator)
8.Air conditioning and humidity control systems required for safe surgical procedures
9.Installation, calibration, staff orientation, and commissioning of the equipment
Project Timeline
Timeline Activities
Months 1â€"2 Procurement of equipment, vendor selection, and purchase approvals
Months 3â€"4 Delivery, installation, calibration, and facility preparation
Month 5 Staff training on equipment operation, surgical assistance, infection prevention, and sterilization
Month 6 Trial operations, quality assurance, and commencement of cataract surgical services
Months 7â€"12 Full implementation, patient screening, cataract surgeries, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation
Rotary Club Member Involvement
Rotary club members will play an active role throughout the project by:
Participating in project planning, implementation, and monitoring.
Coordinating procurement oversight and ensuring transparent use of grant funds.
Conducting regular site visits to monitor project progress and quality standards.
Organizing community outreach and eye screening campaigns to identify patients requiring surgery.
Supporting awareness programs focused on preventable blindness and early treatment.
Assisting with beneficiary identification, particularly among underserved and marginalized communities.
Monitoring project outcomes and preparing progress reports for The Rotary Foundation.
Promoting project sustainability by strengthening partnerships with local health authorities and community organizations.
Expected Impact
The establishment of a surgical unit at Janakpur Eye Care Center will significantly strengthen eye care services in Madhesh Province by enabling timely, affordable, and high-quality cataract surgery close to patients' homes. The project will restore vision for thousands of individuals each year, reduce preventable blindness, improve productivity and independence, and create a sustainable foundation for comprehensive ophthalmic surgical services in one of Nepal's most underserved regions.
| 
