World
Sight Day: 11 October 2013
World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness to focus global
attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of the visually
impaired .World Sight Day is observed around the world by all partners
involved in preventing visual impairment or restoring sight. It is also the
main advocacy event for the prevention of blindness and for "Vision 2020:
The Right to Sight", a global effort to prevent blindness created by WHO and
the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
According
to WHO estimates:
§ About
285 million people are visually impaired worldwide:
§ 39
million are blind and
§ 246
million have low vision (severe or moderate visual impairment)
§ preventable cause are as high as 80% of the
total global visual impairment burden
§ About
90% of the world's visually impaired people live in developing countries
§ Globally,
uncorrected refractive errors are the main cause of visual impairment
§ Cataracts
are the leading cause of blindness
§ 65%
of visually impaired, and 82% of blind people are over 50 years of age,
although this age group comprises only 20% of the world population
According
to the recently concluded population based survey (2000-2001), prevalence of
blindness in the state of Chhattisgarh is 1.6 % i.e. approximately 3.3 million
people are blind in the state of Chhatttisgarh.
Blindness is then a truly public health problem with significant
societal implications. The economic cost of blindness is also substantial, in
lost productivity and rehabilitation, constituting an additional burden on the
already fragile economy.
Table 2.4 Cause
of Blindness
Causes of Blindness
|
India
|
Chhattisgarh
|
Prevalence
Rate
|
1.1
%
|
1.6%
|
Cataract
|
62.6
%
|
71.5
%
|
Refractive
Error
|
19.7
%
|
10.6
%
|
Corneal
Blindness
|
0.9
%
|
0.2
%
|
Glaucoma
|
5.8
%
|
3%
|
Surgical
Complications
|
1.2
%
|
1.6
%
|
Posterior
Segment Disorders
|
4.7
%
|
6.2
%
|
Others
|
5
%
|
6.9
%
|
Source : NPCB 1999-2001 GOI survey
As
is seen in Table – 2.4, the major causes of blindness in Chhattisgarh are due
to Cataract (71.5 %) and Refractive Errors (10.6%). It is quite evident to
notice that more than 80 % of the blindness in the state is due to treatable
eye conditions and it can be controlled.
Cataract has an effective and successful surgical treatment. Refractive Errors can be corrected by a pair
of spectacles. Still many people in far remote and tribal areas go blind due to
unavailability of services or due to low level of awareness. Therefore, with
good planning and implementation, 80% of all blindness in the state of
Chhattisgarh can be easily eliminated.
ON WORLD SIGHT DAY ,WE CARE WELFARE
SOCIETY- A SOCIAL WING OF GANESH EYE HOSPITAL,AMAPARA RUNNED BY TWO YOUNG
DOCTORS, DR ANIL GUPTA AND DR VINAY JAISWAL ’ MAKES MISSON TO ERADICATE
PREVENTABLE BLINDNESS AMONG THE
ECONOMICAL WEAKER SECTION OF THE SOCIETY .
AIMS
- To help eradicate the nation’s
preventable blindness problem.
- To run free eye clinics for the
economically weaker section of society and senior citizens.
- Conduct cataract surgery at the
base hospital free of charge for extremely weak section of Society and
with nominal charge, just to cover the cost of medicine and Intra Ocular
Lenses (IOL) with free medical (surgical) and paramedical services for the
rest of economically weaker section of society.
- To conduct mass screening
program for Glaucoma & Diabetic Eye disease.
- To conduct free eye camps
(cataract surgery) in rural areas and urban slums.
- To conduct free eye cheek up of
school going children for early detection of eye defects.
- To provide optical glasses at
‘no profit no loss’ basis to poor.
- To assists government and non–
government organizations in providing service and training.
- To establish & promote
research work in ophthalmology.
- To commission a mobile clinic
for extending ophthalmic services to the people in the remote areas.
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