A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on July 30, 2007 by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu with Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS) for providing cooperation grant of NRs.12.416 million to NNJS for conducting 10,000 Cataract and 1,200 Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT) surgeries during the year 2007-08 through eye hospitals and eye-care centres of NNJS in various districts of Nepal.
Blindness due to cataract is a major health problem in Nepal. There are about 320,000 blind people in Nepal, of which about 129,000 suffer blindness due to cataract. Trachoma is the second leading causes of preventable blindness in Nepal, with 29, out of 75 districts, affected by the ailment.
NNJS is an apex voluntary organization, recognized by Government of Nepal as a National Society for Comprehensive Eye Care having 12 eye hospitals and 34 eye-care centres under its umbrella across various districts of Nepal. Since 2001, Government of India has been providing assistance to NNJS for cataract surgeries in Nepal through country-wide eye-camps under the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme. The eye camps are held free of medical charges, with only a nominal registration fee charged for the logistical arrangements at these camps. NNJS has also started performing trachoma surgeries since 2006-07 under the cooperation programme. Till March 2007, 2,89,549 patients have been examined, while 45,087 cataract and 700 trachoma surgeries performed in these camps, with total assistance of NRs. 55 million from the Government of India.
Under the MoU, Government of India will provide fresh assistance of NRs.12.416 million to NNJS for year 2007-08 to cover 50% of the estimated cost of conducting 10,000 cataract surgeries and 1,200 trachoma surgeries through its diagnostic and surgical camps. The remaining half of the expenditure will be met by NNJS from its own resources.
Another proposal of NNJS for GOI’s assistance for School Eye Health Care Programme is under active consideration. Under this programme NNJS will conduct mobile screening camps in schools in various districts of Nepal and will distribute free of cost, about 9,000 spectacles and about 300 low vision devices to school students.
India’s assistance to NNJS is part of more than 220 large and small development projects currently being realized under the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme in the sectors of education, health, community development and infrastructure covering almost all the districts of Nepal with an outlay of over NRs.20 billion.
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