Following the Nepal blindness survey in 1980-81, Seva Foundation in the US, Seva Canada and other international non-governmental organizations partnered with local Nepalese NGOs and the government of Nepal to establish the Nepal Prevention of Blindness Program. This program is world famous as a model of sustainable eye care development in the developing world.
Photo courtesy of Anne Frigon
One such example is the Lumbini eye care program, established by Seva in 1982. Lumbini Eye Institute provides over 300,000 eye examinations and 30,000 eye surgeries annually. As a result of Seva's encouragement and financial help to support south-to-south transfer of skills and knowledge, the Lumbini eye care program has expanded to other districts in Nepal. Today, 18 out of 75 districts in Nepal have benefited from such partnerships. Chitwan District mentioned below is one of the 18 districts which provides eye care to poor Nepali blind patients through its extensive community outreach program, mainly with the help of female community health volunteers trained in primary eye care. Ten years ago, the secondary eye hospital in Bharatpur in the Chitwan Valley of Nepal was on the verge of closing down due to financial problems and low patient attendance. With support from Lumbini Eye Institute and Seva, the situation in Chitwan has changed dramatically. On April 1st the Prime Minister of Nepal inaugurated a new outpatient building at the Bharatpur Eye Hospital.
Inauguration of the new outpatient department in Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
The outpatient building is in the main town and easily accessible to all. The new building has an air-conditioned waiting area for about 500 patients. It contains an optical shop, pharmacy and all the advanced equipment needed for eye care such as an auto refractometer, auto lensometer, auto edging, and a good slit lamp with applanation. The Bharatpur Eye Hospital provides comprehensive eye care including retina, oculoplasty and phaco surgery. It is also a centre for community ophthalmology, reaching out to people in remote areas who need care.
Spacious new outpatient department in Bharatpur Eye Hospital
Located in , Bharatpur is the district headquarters of the Chitwan District and is the seventh largest city of Nepal with the population of over 200,000. Bharatpur is one of the fastest growing cities of Nepal. It lies on the banks of Narayani River and serves as a commercial centre of Chitwan district and central region of Nepal.
Eye care patient being examined in Bharatpur, Chitwan
