Sightsavers India wins ICC Social Impact Award for Urban Eye Health Programme in Bihar

Sightsavers’ Urban Eye Health Programme in Bihar was felicitated with ICC Social Impact Award from Indian Chamber of Commerce in the Large Project Category.

Sightsavers has promoted and demonstrated an approach of integrating eye health within urban public health systems in Patna for ease of access to eye health service by the socio-economically marginalised sections of the 2.4 million urban population. This is a lasting change created by strengthening existing health systems in a cost-effective and scalable manner, advocating with and influencing governments thus resulting in and scale-up within State and at National level.

Sightsavers has leveraged the existing Urban Primary Health Centre (henceforth UPHC) network of National Urban Health Mission of Government of Bihar and has set up Vision Centres within the UPHC. Thus, communities get doorstep service of primary eye screening, identifying minor eye ailments, treatment of uncorrected refractive errors and referrals to in-city government hospitals for higher order treatments.

Mr Sudipta Mohanty, Area Director at Sightsavers India said, “We are delighted to be recognised for our work as an organisation. The Urban Eye Health Programme has contributed to good health and well-being of a significant population of the State of Bihar and will address more urban population in the days to come.”