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JSW Foundation, Standard Chartered Bank and Sightsavers India have come together to launch a Rural Eye Health Program in Raigad District, Maharashtra.

The three-year project is designed to cater to the specific eye care needs of Raigad's estimated population of 2.6 million. The project aims to reduce the prevalence of blindness in the district to less than 0.3% in three years. Primary objectives include ensuring accessible and affordable primary and secondary eye care services for the population and fortifying the health systems in the district for eye health care.

The RAAB study conducted by AIIMSi in Thane district, Maharashtra, highlights alarming statistics - 2.09% of individuals aged 50 and above are blind, with 12.98% experiencing visual impairment. A subsequent internal assessment for Raigad District uncovered a backlog of 6,014 cataract cases, underscoring the pressing need to address eye health in the area.

The implementation of this unique project in Raigad district of Maharashtra is poised to yield significant outcomes, including the establishment of seven vision centres, conducting a remarkable 292 camps, and screening 124,360 individuals. Moreover, the project aims to provide 23,862 dispensed prescription glasses, addressing the critical need for visual aids. Additionally, it plans to perform 16,870 cataract surgeries, a vital intervention for those suffering from this prevalent condition. These numbers underscore the project's commitment to improving access to eye care services and enhancing the quality of life for thousands in need.

This collaboration aims to mitigate the substantial prevalence of visual impairment in the region while expanding Sightsavers India's rural eye health program into a previously unexplored geography.

JSW Foundation, under its Health and Nutrition program, has been supporting communities by conducting vision screening camps to help detect refractive errors and correct them with prescription glasses and also conducting free cataract surgeries. Under this program, in addition to vision screening and correction camps, government vision correction centres will also be established along with equipment support.