Sightsavers India, a development organization working to eliminate avoidable blindness has received the donation of a Mobile Eye Health van from Alcon (India), a global leader in eye care to assist in providing eye care for the slum dwellers in Urban Bengaluru. This partnership between Alcon and Sightsavers is part of Alcon India’s ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, committed to helping people see better. The initiative aims to provide quality eye care services to approximately seven thousand people in these underserved areas.
The inauguration of the Mobile Eye Health Van took place at Bangalore Diabetes and Eye Hospital. It had in attendance the esteemed Deputy Director – of Opthalmology, Dr. Rajani, and the Joint Director NPCBVI, Government of Karnataka, Dr. Shamsundar, alongside other distinguished guests, including the District Leprosy Officer – BBMP, Dr. Girish.
The Mobile Eye Health Van initiative addresses significant barriers faced by individuals living in low-income areas in accessing quality eye care, including financial constraints and a lack of nearby healthcare facilities. The mobile eye health van is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including a Fundus Camera for diagnosing Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma, a slit lamp for diagnosing retinal diseases, and teleconsultation facilities. The van will offer comprehensive eye examinations, diagnosis and early detection of vision problems, and immediate treatment of any common eye conditions. In case of a major eye care diagnosis, the patient will be referred to Shraddha Eye Clinic Trust for advanced treatment.
The initiative will cover key areas within Bangalore, including Bangalore South including HSR Layout, Madiwala, Koramangala, Kumaraswamy Layout, and Jayanagara; Bangalore North including Abbigere, Amruthalli, Dasarahalli, Yelahanka, and Hebbal; Bangalore East including Avalahalli, Dommasandra, and Bidarahalli; and Bangalore West including Basaveshwaranagara, Chandra Layout, Kengeri, Mahalakshmi Layout, and Mathikere.
This Mobile Eye Health Van donation will enable Sightsavers, India to provide affordable and accessible essential eye care to marginalized communities, improving their overall health, well-being, and quality of life and reducing the prevalence of avoidable blindness in these communities. This donation is an important resource in addressing the eye care needs of Bangalore’s urban slum dwellers.
The partnership between Sightsavers and Alcon shows their commitment to improving public health and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Through their provision of access to quality eye care services, this initiative would help make a major impact on the lives of thousands of individuals living in the Bangalore slums.
In addition, the initiative also aims at raising awareness about the importance of eye health and the need to regularly carry out eye check-ups. This will help in reducing the high-rate of vision impairment and avoidable blindness in the Bangalore community.
In conclusion, the donation of a Mobile Eye Health Van to Sightsavers, India by Alcon (India) is a major step towards addressing the eye care needs of the slum dwellers in Urban Bangalore. This initiative is expected to have a notable impact on the lives of thousands of individuals in the marginalized communities of Urban Bangalore, providing them access to needed eye care services and improving their overall well-being and health.