Grant
Application

D-2325

   India - Delhi

Make Blindness History No 7

$56,000

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.

Primary Host Partner in the Project Country

Club: Delhi South East

District: 3010

Primary Contact: Ashok Verma

Email: rdse1112@gmail.com

Check all projects from: [District 3010] [Delhi South East Rotary Club] [Ashok Verma]

Primary International Partner Outside the Project Country

Club: Stevenage Grange

District: 1260

Primary Contact: Stephen Sypula

Email: stephen@sgrc.org.uk

Check all projects from: [District 1260] [Stevenage Grange Rotary Club] [Stephen Sypula]

Proposed Financing

Primary Host Sponsor Rotary Club/District

Rotary Club of Delhi South East

$1,059

District 3010 DDF

$12,500

Primary International Sponsor Rotary Club/District

Rotary Club of Stevenage Grange

$220

District 1260 DDF

$5,000

Additional Rotary Clubs/Districts

District 1080 DDF

$3,800

Rotary Club of Felixstowe

$4,297

Rotary Club of Berhamsted Bulbourne

$781

Rotary Club of Cheltenham Cleeve Vale

$781

Rotary Club of Bracknell

$312

Rotary Club of St Annes-on-the-Sea

$156

Rotary Club of The Brickhills

$94

Rotary Club of Blindness Prevention Donor Advised Fund

$2,000

Amount requested from the Rotary Foundation

$25,000

Total

$56,000

Status and Progress Information

Completed

This project is completed. Project listed for the 2012-13 Rotary Year.

The Matching Grant application number from TRF is #77204.

The TRF Staff in charge of this grant is Agne Jankauskaite (Agne.Jankauskaite@rotary.org).

<5-Apr-12> System Entry
Creation of project page.

<5-Apr-12> by Stephen
The fully funded application was submitted to TRF on 26th March 2012 and acknowleded on 3rd April. It haS been allocated a MG reference No. of #77204

<6-Apr-12> System Entry
Grant paperwork sent to The Rotary Foundation.

<6-Apr-12> System Entry
Grant paperwork sent to The Rotary Foundation.

<23-May-12> System Entry
Grant approved by The Rotary Foundation.

<18-Apr-12> by Stephen
The project was approved by TRF on 18th April 2012

<16-Dec-12> by Stephen
The project start was delayed. It is now on track to complete by April 2013

<2-Aug-13> System Entry
Grant status changed to "Completed".

<2-Aug-13> by Stephen
Final report submitted and accepted by TRF June 2013