Cataract Backlog Free Zone Program –District Chitrakoot Introduction Restoring sight to blind is noble approach to reduce avoidable blindness across the globe. Blindness has been major public health concern in India. With 7.8 million blind people in India, the country accounts for 20 per cent of the 39 million blind population across the globe, of which 62 per cent are on account of cataract and 19.7 per cent refractive errors. With today’s knowledge and technology, up to 80 per cent of blindness globally is preventable or treatable. In India cataract is the major leading cause of avoidable blindness. Due to rural-urban disparity, lack of access to eye care services and lack of awareness the backlog of cataract cases are increasing day by day. Cataract Backlog Free Zone As per the Indian definition people with vision <6/60 in better eye can be termed as ‘blind’ people. People with cataract in both eyes (bilateral blind) with vision <6/60 can be termed as blind due to cataract. If we identify and operate all such bilateral cataracts in a defined geographical area we can term that area as Cataract Backlog Free Zone. Aim of the initiative: To make Chitrakoot District Cataract Backlog Free Zone. Objectives: To train Asha and Anganwadi workers in identifying cataract cases and referring them to nearest eye care center To identify, examine and operate all cataract cases in Chitrakoot District To create a successful model of eye care service delivery that can be replicated Profile of District: District Chitrakoot Population (Census 2011) in District Chitrakoot 990626 Prevalence + incidence of blindness in District Chitrakoot 16477 Estimated cataracts in District Chitrakoot 10121 Inception: Dr.B.K Jain, Director & Trustee, ShriSadguruSevaSangh Trust visualized the concept of Cataract Backlog Free Zone for Bundelkhand region in the year 2012. Dr. B.K Jain shared the concept with ShriBalkaar Singh District Magistrate of Chitrakoot during one of his visits to ShriSadguruSevaSangh Trust in the year 2013. Shri. S.Venkatraman, Chief of Programs and Field Operations, Help Me See, ensured support for implementing the concept in Chitrakoot District in the year 2013. Status Report- Activities update 13/12/2013 – ShriBalkaar Singh, DM of Chitrakoot called a meeting with Health Department and SadguruNetraChikitsalaya (SNC), Jankikund, Chitrakoot to discuss the concept of Cataract Backlog Free Zone. The concept of Cataract Backlog Free Zone was presented by representative of SNC. It was decided to involve Asha/Anganwadi workers for door to door survey and case finding. 16/12/2013 - Dr.VedPrakash, CMO, Chitrakoot issued a letter to all Medical Officers of Chitrakoot District for training of Asha/Anganwadi workers in all blocks. 17th- 30th December 2013 - Training program for Asha&Anganwadi workers was organized by SadguruNetraChikitslaya team. The training program was organized at CHC/PHC of respective blocks. 26/12/2013- A revised letter was issued by DM Chitrakoot for repeat training of Asha/Anganwadi workers those missed in first round of training. 06/01/2014-A meeting was held at SadguruNetraChikitsalaya for inauguration of the program. The meeting was chaired by DM, Chitrakoot. All the key stakeholders of the program i.e SNC team, CMO Chitrakoot, District Health Staff, ICDS and Nagar Palika staff attended the meeting 10/01/2014-Door to door screening program was inaugurated by ShriBalkaar Singh, DM, Chitrakoot, Dr.VedPrakash, CMO, Chitrakoot&Dr.B.K Jain, Director of SadguruNetraChikitslaya (SNC). Door to Door screening was done by SNC team with the support of Anganwadi workers and Nagar Palika staff. 21/01/2014-Inauguration of rural eye camps by ShriBalkaar Singh, DM, Chitrakoot, Dr.VedPrakash, CMO, Chitrakoot&Dr.B.K Jain, Director of SadguruNetraChikitslaya. 10/02/2014 - 22/02/2014-Manikpur town door to door screening was done by SadguruNetraChikitsalaya team 01/03/2014 - 14/03/2014- Rajapur town door to door screening was done by SadguruNetraChikitsalaya team. 02/10/2014-Declaration of Chitrakoot District as Cataract Backlog Free Zone by ShriMurlidharDubey, Commissioner, Chitrakoot Division. Declaration of Chitrakoot District as Cataract Backlog Free Zone. ShriMurlidharDubey, Commissioner ChitrakootDham Division, declared District Chitrakoot as a Cataract Backlog Free Zone on 2nd October, 2014 in presence of Smt. NeelamAhlawat, District Magistrate, Chitrakoot, Shri Swami Prasad Superintendent of Police Dist, Chitrakoot and Dr.VedPrakash, Chief Medical Officer, District Chitrakoot, Shri. Venkatraman, Chief of Programs and Field Operations, Help Me See, ShriN.B.Lohani, Trustee, ShriSadguruSevaSangh Trust and Dr. B.K. Jain, Director & Trustee, ShriSadguruSevaSangh Trust. Achievements - In Brief Activity Result Asha/Anganwadi workers trained 761 Outreach eye camps organized 363 Total cataract surgeries performed from 01/04/2013 to 30/09/2014 9820 (97%) Joining hands for Noble cause Govt. of Uttar Pradesh-We convey our heartfelt thanks to Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and District Administration of Chitrakoot for realizing this dream with us & for providing continuous administrative & logistic support throughout the project. Special Thanks to ShriBalkar Singh, Ex- DM Chitrakoot, ShriMurlidharDubey, Commissioner Chitrakoot Division, Smt. NeelamAhlawat, DM Chitrakoot, Dr. VedPrakash CMO, Chitrakoot and team of District administration and health department. Help Me See- We extend our sincere thanks to Help Me See, for providingwhole hearted support and assistance withevidence-based approach on surgical quality assurance programs.With a great appreciation, we are remembering the contributions of Mr.S.Venkatraman,Chief of Programs and Field Operations, Mr.Mohan Jacob Thazhathu, president and CEO, TyUeltschi, Major Gifts Coordinator Volunteer & other dignitaries of HelpMeSee. Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Trust- We also Share our heartfelt gratitude to our chairman ShriVishad P. Mafatlal, & all Trustees for providing consent to make this dream come true & we also give thanks to our gurubhais and other stakeholders of this organization for their immense support provided in completion of this projectalong with whole team of CFZ project. Training of Asha&Anganwadi workers Door to Door cataract screening by team of DeclarationShriMurlidhardharDubey, of District Chitrakoot Commissioner, as a SadguruNetraChikitsalaya ChitrakootCataract Division Backlog Declaring Free Chitrakoot Zone by Dist. A cataract backlog Free Zone Shri Mulridhar Dubey, Commissioner, Chitrakootdham Mandal Media Coverage .