As far as the national programme for control of blindness (NPCB) is concerned, Maharashtra and Gujarat’s vision is near-20/20.
TN, Andhra, K’taka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, UP and MP are next in lineNEW DELHI: As far as the national programme for control of blindness (NPCB) is concerned, Maharashtra and Gujarat’s vision is near-20/20.
The states have emerged the best performers in NPCB parameters cataract surgery and school eye screening. The third parameter is collection of donated eyes.
Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are next in line, while Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and other northeastern states are among the worst performers, according to the health ministry.
Maharashtra conducted 6,14,667 cataract surgeries and Gujarat 6,44,389, much above the target of 5,50,000 for 2007-08. Gujarat screened 51,88,638 schoolchildren and found 82,989 of them had refractive errors and distributed 75,862 free spectacles.
In Maharashtra, 31,58,380 schoolchildren were screened, of which 1,18,588 had refractive errors and 61,596 were given free spectacles.
Gujarat topped in eye donation as well, at 7,372, followed by Tamil Nadu (6,635), Maharashtra (4,698) and Andhra (3,660).
In view of Maharashtra’s high performance, the health ministry has decided to help the state upgrade one of its medical colleges as regional institute of ophthalmology in the 11th five-year plan.
Considering the high number of schoolchildren detected with refractive errors, the ministry has also decided to focus on childhood blindness in the 11th plan. Accordingly, special eye check-up camps will be conducted in all schools.
“Childhood blindness will be the priority for the government now. It has been found that 7% of schoolchildren in India have refractive errors. So far, we were conducting check-ups for middle- and higher-secondary students, but now, primary classes will also be included.
“All schoolchildren will be tested for squint and other eye problems, including weak eyesight and poor children will be given free spectacles,” R Jose, additional director general of NPCB, said.
The government is planning to strengthen eye banks and engage “eye donation counsellors” to motivate the kin of the dead to donate eyes. “There has been a gradual increase in eye donation. In 2006-07, 30,000 eyes were donated, in 07-08 38,000 and this year, the number has gone up to 42,000. The counsellors will motivate terminally-ill patients and their family members to donate eyes,” Jose said.
The government will also provide financial support to NGOs to strengthen the existing infrastructure for eye care.
p_vineeta@dnaindia.net 
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