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Restoring sight – the context for this application
WHO advise that restoration of sight is one of the most social and cost effective health interventions. This is a Rotarians Ophthalmic Initiative (ROI) and Blindness Prevention Donor Advised Fund (BPDAF - see annex 3) supported avoidable blindness project. This project supports programs promoted by WHO, the International Agency for Blindness Prevention (IAPB), the Rotary Action Group for Blindness Prevention (RAGBP) and VISION 2020: THE RIGHT TO SIGHT, and many international eye-care charities, by encouraging Rotarians to help promote activities which will help eradicate avoidable blindness by the year 2020. It addresses our collective Clubs’ & Districts’ ambition to help 'make blindness history. It supports the goals of Vision 2020 (India) – see Annex 2.
Needs criteria
India has the second highest percentage of blind people in the world. Every 3rd blind person in the world is an Indian. There are nearly 45 million Indians who are visually impaired, of whom 80% can be cured as Cataract is the largest contributor to avoidable blindness amongst the elderly, especially the elderly poor & illiterate living in the rural countryside having little or no access to medical aid. With Govt. of India giving impetus to initiatives like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Education For All), school children are now being routinely screened for Low Vision. As a result large numbers of paediatric cases are also expected to need eye-care facilities for diagnosis & treatment including surgery. See Annex 1
What the project will achieve
The project will provide new Electrophysiological diagnostic system RETI – port / scan 21 and a Miniganzfeld to the charitable wing of the ICARE Hospital, NOIDA. ICARE Hospital runs an outreach program as advised above and as shown in Annex 1. Last year, it screened 113,000 persons for a wide variety of ophthalmic disorders and carried out 12,000 surgeries of which nearly 70% were provided to the poor at no charge. The Electrophysiological diagnostic system RETI – port / scan 21 is required for the diagnosis, management and follow up of various retinal and optic nerve disorders. It is of vital importance to diagnose cases of optic neuritis, optic atrophy, traumatic neuropathy, toxic neuropathy etc. For retinal dystrophies, these tests help to diagnose the disorder and detect the severity of the disease. These tests are of paramount importance for research activities also.
Selection criteria
These donated items of equipment will be exclusively used in the Community wing of the ICARE Hospital on patients selected solely on low income criterion. A decision to purchase the equipment from the sole distributor in India has been taken on the grounds of value for money and product longevity. The decision has the support of the International Partner (Stevenage Grange RC) who has sought professional opinion on the suitability of the equipment and alternative quotations. Patients benefiting from the proposed replacement equipment will be selected from the poorest of the poor. Host Club Rotarian volunteers will screen candidates' income papers.
Environmental benefit
Consistent with RI’s ambitions, a small contribution to global pollution challenges will be made to commemorate the project: A tree or appropriate long living plants will be planted in ICARE Hospital in recognition of the project.
In summary
The project will help examine 150 poorest of poor patients every day for minimum of next 10 years.. These tests will be done free of charge to recipients. The community will benefit by supporting fewer sight impaired people: Restoring their sight will enrich lives, restore livelihoods by enabling each patient to become a productive and supportive member of their family and local community.
Timescale: The host and International Committees anticipate project completion within 6 months of placing the order.
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