The problem of avoidable blindness cannot be fought with just medical intervention alone. Strategic investments need to be made in capacity creation  so that in the years to come , the country is truly able to rid itself of this scrouge. Capacity Creation can be seen as:

• Creating Infrastructure
• Developing skills
  
  

Creating Infrastructure

The country urgently needs infrastructure that will enable both early identification, advise and treatment. The hospital over the years has been working on creating infrastructure at block headquaters as well as district headquaters

Vision Centres:

The hospital actively sets up Vision centres at block headquaters. A vision centre is manned by a local person who undergoes a rigorous 18 months of education at the base hospital. Post education, the person is able to provide refraction services, dispense glasses and most importantly, provide the right advise to illiterate rural people. Most importantly, such centres are normally able to be self sustainable through sale of glasses within  12 to 18 months of commissioning. The impact that such a centre has on the surrounding area is something to be believed

The cost of setting up a vision centre, education a person and operationalizing the same amounts to INR 400,000

For further information on vision centres, write to donations@sceh.net

Secondary centres:

The hospital strives to set up secondary operating facilities in districts where there is a considerable backlog of avoidably blind. Manned by a well trained ophthalmologist and supported by a team of 12-15 people, the centre provides  largely cataract surgery facilities for the rural poor.

With the help of donors from around the world, the hospital has set up secondary facilities at Alwar District, Rajasthan; Saharanpur District , Uttar Pradesh and Shahjahanpur District, UttarPradesh.

For further information on secondary centres, write to donations@sceh.net


Creating Infrastructure

Manpower Education:

The best of facilities become useless if adequately trained and motivated manpower is not available. It is a well known fact that rural facilities are not able to attract manpower from the cities .

The solution lies in identifying local resources and providing them adequate education and thus create a lasting solution. The hospital has been following this strategy for the last few years with considerable success.

Vision Technician Traning:

A local person ( ideally 10+2 with science) is selected and put through 18 months of gruelling education . On successful completion, the person is put in charge of a vision centre in his/her own area thereby not only providing medical crae at the grass roots but also creating local employment opportunities. The cost of this education is 75000.

For further information on VT education, write to donations@sceh.net