Six districts much behind in blindness control target

RAIPUR, Apr 6 OBJECTIVE of blindness control in Chhattisgarh could not be realised as targeted in last financial year in at least six districts. Cataract operations could not be performed in accordance with blindness control norms according to a renowned eye specialist associated with the blindness control programme.

The norms specify that the number of cataract operations done should be at least 400 per lakh population, but the target could be achieved only in ten districts of the State. The specialist attributed such a failure to a limited administrative health services infrastructure and non-existence of NGOs in these six districts where though cataract operations were done, but far below the norms, said the doctor. Entire population of the six districts was dependent only on the official infrastructure. No NGO or Lions and Rotary club like organisers took care there to conduct eye camps for selecting cataract surgery cases he said. Monetary incentive offered for cataract operations to organisers and doctors play a great role in making available their services in remote interior areas said the doctor, adding that the incentive was equal for all districts. The Ophthalmologist also pointed out that more incentive would attract professionals and they not be reluctant to visit the far off remote areas to render services, else they would concentrate in nearer urban areas. The said specialist associated with blindness control programme was also not satisfied with the level of awareness among common people. Revealing his experience, the doctor said that he came across many educated people who thought that cataract has to be operated when it fully matured. Such a mindset was wrong as medical science has established that cataract can be operated at any stage. Increase in environmental pollution was a reason behind cataract. Depletion of ozone layer leads to abundance of ultra violet and infrared radiations increasing the number of cataract patients, he added. The age limit was 60 years for screening of cataract under the national blindness control programme up to 1993, but it was reduced to 40 years in 2006, said the doctor. People like drivers, scholars and also other sections need to be made aware, he felt. Health Services Director Dr B S Sarva, on being contacted, admitted that cataract operations could not be done up to norms in six districts and the incentive to eye surgeons happened to be a factor. A proposal sent to the national blindness control society at the Centre did not get approval. He also admitted that the number of eye surgeons in State’s interior parts was inadequate.