KATHMANDU, JULY 25
Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited has joined hands with Nepal Eye Programme (Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology) and MITRA Samaj to identify and treat cases of preventable blindness, cataract and posterior segment eye diseases across all provinces in the country.
For this purpose, the Bank has donated USD 36,434 (Rs 4,790,866) to Nepal Eye Programme which will be used in the establishment of a Community Eye Centre (CEC) at Nichuta, Parsa, to deliver comprehensive eye care services to the people of Paterwa Sugauli Rural Mu-nicipality and its adjoining rural and urban municipalities.
The project will focus on aged people, women, children, people with impairment, and people with disabilities.
A total of 7,200 persons will directly benefit from this project such as community eye centre (3,000), community screenings (2,000), school screenings (2,000) and cataract surgeries (200) through the outreach programme in a year.
The donation made to MI- TRA Samaj USD 51,379 (Rs 6,725,000) will be used for the Cataract Blindness Alleviation Project aimed at identifying cases of avoidable blinding diseases, including cataract,among the hard-toreach population (especially 50+years), in priority areas of all provinces of Nepal.
Around 3,000 people are expected to benefit through the screenings, 700-1,000 cataract cases will be identified, 1,500 people with refractive error are expected to get treated and/or receive reading glasses, and 700 cataract cases will be restored with vision through this project.
At the cheque handover event, Harsha Pillai, Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, of SCBNL said, "Through our collaboration with Nepal Eye Programme and MITRA Samaj, we endeavour to provide eye care services to those who do not have easy access or cannot afford this treatment. The focus is on early detection of eye ailments, referral, and appropriate treatment. Serving communities will always be at the heart of Standard Chartered." Reeta Gurung, CEO of Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology said, "I want to reassure you that the funds will be well spent for the benefit of the needy people of Nichuta area".
Vivek Singh Thakuri, Executive Director of MITRA Samaj shared, "We are super excited to partner with Standard Chartered Bank to identify cases of avoidable blinding diseases and improve people's vision by organising free Outreach Micro Surgical Eye Clinics.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 26, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
