UK-based global development organisation Sightsavers has launched Vidyajyoti School Eye Health Programme in Cuttack district. The launching event was organised in Kendriya Vidyalaya No-1, Cuttack.
Keeping in mind the importance of quality eye health among school going children, the programme is being launched in partnership with Rotary Club of Cuttack Eye Hospital and Research Institute, Cuttack.
Under the programme, free eye health services will be provided to approximately 3.50 lakh school-going students covering 2,500 Government schools in Cuttack district. The programme will be implemented by six dedicated refraction teams comprising ophthalmologists, optometrists, vision technicians and health educators. Besides providing free eye care services to the school-going students, the programme will also train school teachers, local health staff and school management committee members etc on various aspects of screening, promotive and preventive aspects of eye care.
The programme is designed to work closely with National Programme for the Control of Blindness, Rashtriya Bal Swaasthya Karyakaram and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The five- year programme is aimed at creating a robust school health system in the demonstration district, Cuttack and in the State.
Among those spoke included Sightsavers India CEO RN Mohanty and State Blindness Control Programme Officer Dr Jeetendra Kumar Das. Cuttack Collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra, Akbar Mehfuz Alam, CDMO Dr Prafull Kumar Behera, Debasis Panda, KV Principal Manas Kumar Panigrahi were present.