In order to develop a roadmap to achieve the target of more than 25 per cent reduction in blindness by 2022, the State Government has formed an empowered committee led by lVPEI’s Dr Tara Prasad Das as Chairman.
The committee would recommend and promote standards for seamless implementation of the Universal Eye Care Programme in Odisha.
The other members of the team are the Directors of the Medical Education and Training and the Health Services, the Additional Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, NHM Additional Mission Director, Additional Diretor/Joint Director of the Ophthalmology, HODs of the Ophthalmology Departments of the SCBMCH and the MKCGMCH, lVPEI Director, IIPH Director, EO and MI of the Rotary Hospital, Cuttack, State representatives of the Sight Savers International, ORBIS, Operation Eyesight International and CBM International and Dr Sabyasachi Patnaik of the Capital Hospital. Patnaik is the member convenor of the committee.
The committee, which would work for a period of five hears, would provide guidance on operationalising the Universal Eye Care goals trough building a cadre of skilled medical and paramedical workforce and formulate plans to integrate eye care services with the primary and secondary care and strengthen referral to higher level.
Besides, it would establish systems for routine screening, diagnosis and managing pre-disease conditions and advocate and design strengthening of eye care in health insurance/assurance programmes.