Kathmandu, July 22 Acknowledging its contribution to quality eye health care services, the World Health Organisation has today given Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology recognition as its collaborating centre for ophthalmology. The announcement was made during a programme organised here to celebrate the silver jubilee year of the institution. Jos Vandelaer, WHO representative to Nepal, handed over the recognition certificate to Reeta Gurung, chief executive officer of the institution, during the event. TIO is the first WHO collaborating centre in Nepal in the field of ophthalmology. WHO collaborating centres are institutions such as research institutes, parts of universities or academies, which are designated by the director-general to carry out activities in support of the Organisation’s programmes. Currently, there are over 800 WHO collaborating centres in over 80 member states working with WHO in areas such as nursing, occupational health, communicable diseases, nutrition, mental health, chronic diseases and health technologies, according to WHO. WHO has provided this status to the institution for its significant contribution to eye care service delivery, education and training in the field of ophthalmology, and ophthalmic research. Speaking at the programme, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said, “The institution has done extraordinary work in the area of eye health care and has contributed to the country’s prosperity.” He also assured all the required support from the government’s side for the growth of the institution. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population Upendra Yadav said a separate eye unit will be established in the health ministry. Established to support prevention and control of blindness in Nepal and beyond, TIO has, till date, examined and treated more than six million eye patients, while more than 400,000 cataract and other major eye surgeries have been performed. The institution has a state-of-the-art intra-ocular lens manufacturing unit which produces high quality intra-ocular lenses which are used in cataract surgeries. These lenses are exported to more than 70 countries in the world.