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NAB Kaikhushroo H. Chinoy Centre for Prevention of Blindness & Low Vision History NAB believes preventing blindness is as important as providing rehabilitative services to the blind; in fact blindness prevention is one of NAB's mission statements. So, around five decades ago, in June 1959 – to be precise - NAB constituted under its auspices, the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness (NSPB). NSPB through support of the Government and international funding agencies significantly contributed to ophthalmic research and community eye health, at national level. Over the years, the Prevention of Blindness Committee established by NAB sometime in1976-77, under the able leadership of its Honorary Secretary, Dr. Rajendra T. Vyas (who was also then, the regional representative of RCSB), collaborated with several international agencies like Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind (RCSB), Christoffel Blindenmission and Operation Eye-Sight Universal to initiate sight restoration and revention of nutritional blindness programmes - mainly in rural India and slums of Mumbai. Other achievements of this committee include: establishment of the Abdulla Fazelbhoy Centre for Eye Care, the All India Eye Bank Association, the Eye Bank Coordination & Research Centre in collaboration with Masina Hospital and the Maharashtra Society for Donation of Eyes, and its role in formation of the National Programme on Control of Blindness, launched by the Government of India. Blindness can be preventable. However, lack of awareness about eye ailments delays treatment thereby leading to sight loss. Bearing this in mind, the committee trained some 1300 teachers in detecting eye defects in children and took remedial action. In 1996 NAB decided to establish a special department to manage this activity. Hence came into being NAB Kaikhushroo H. Chinoy Centre for Prevention of Blindness. Activities In India, eye diseases are dominant among economically underprivileged and impoverished communities. Keeping these factors in mind, we started projects to detect and treat glaucoma, cataract and conjunctivitis and provide medication and spectacles to children in slums and municipal schools and adult belonging to the financially backward sections of the society. Our trained staff examines eyes of the target groups with the help of mobile ophthalmic vans that are equipped with state-of-the-art ophthalmic devices. These mobile clinics are a gift from the Government of Japan. Complicated cases are referred to ophthalmologist and proper treatment - including eye operations - is arranged. All this happens in alliance with a vast network of ophthalmic surgeons, hospitals and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. We have tested eyes of over 3,73,000 children. Based on the diagnosis they were provided spectacles, medicines and referral service. We have also screened eyes of around 71,000 adults. Free of cost treatment was arranged for those in need of medicines, further diagnosis and surgical intervention. 9,570 cataract surgeries were organized with the support of donation given in the memory of Late Parviz & Khorshed Mazagaonwalla.
Sight Restoration Programmes In keeping with our mission to help those who cannot afford eye-care, benefit through the best available eye treatment to save their sight, we initiated two programmes. These are:
Services to People with Low Vision NAB, while serving the blind, has been playing an active role in detecting causes of visual impairment and providing effective treatment to restrict vision loss. The Centre for Services to People with Low Vision set up by NAB earlier was merged with this Centre. We continue to provide special quality spectacles and low vision kits containing various optical and non-optical LV devices to people diagnosed with low vision. |
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