Devi Eye Hospitals has introduced a campaign titled NETRA ( Neighbourhood Exchange for Total Response and Action on eye care). This is an extension of the hospital’s commitment towards the community services. The year-long campaign started on October 14 observed as the World Sight Day from both its facilities located at Koramangala and HSR Layout.
It is aimed at enhancing awareness and education on eye care and health. The campaign will seek to educate as well as engage communities on vision care, awareness of blindness, vision impairment, vision-related diseases and eye donation.
The well structured and scheduled campaign has been developed to create an awareness on eye health. The campaign will engage with people across the specific localities in Bangalore through vision screenings, literature, handouts, stickers, posters, informative films, skits, workshops, etc. It will also associate educational institutions, clubs, non-governmental organizations, corporate institutions and shopping malls.
According to Dr Balakrishna Shetty, chairman Devi Eye Hospital, though we have been involved in eye health awareness for a long time, the launch of the neighbourhood campaign seeks to complement the right-to-sight programme of the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
“This is an extension program from Devi Eye Hospital to provide better eye care to the community. Computer Vision Syndrome, refractive error in children, diabetic eye problems, etc are increasing in an alarming rate in the city and hence a comprehensive campaign like this is critical. Vision is always taken for granted and people seldom give the attention that eye care deserves except when reminded. Recent statistics show that most of the world’s blindness is preventable, treatable and curable. Main reason for eye related problems is because of gross negligence and improper eye care,” he added.
The campaign will also feature a series of informative and educative films from Maya Chandra, a well-known film maker in Karnataka who has extensive experience in healthcare communication and has special interest in eye health education. The first of the series will be released by the end of October. A dedicated website is being launched where people can log on for information on the campaign as well as ask for a screening camp. A mobile outreach programme is also being introduced in the near future.
The 16-year-old Devi Eye Hospital provides comprehensive ophthalmic care across and also serves as a convenient referral centre hospitals.
Dr Gururaj Karajagi, Eminent Educationist and chairman of Academy for Creative Teaching inaugurated the same.