July 26: Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL) has joined hands with Nepal Eye Programme of Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology and MITRA Samaj to identify and treat cases of avoidable blindness, cataract and posterior segment eye diseases across all provinces in the country.

The bank has donated USD 36,434 (Rs 4,790,866) to Nepal Eye Programme which will be used in the establishment of a Community Eye Centre (CEC) at Nichuta, Parsa, to deliver comprehensive eye care services to the people of Paterwa Sugauli Rural Municipality-5 and its adjoining rural and urban municipalities, reads a statement issued by the bank.

According to the bank, the project will focus on elderly people, women, children, people with impairment, and people with disabilities. A total of 7,200 persons will directly benefit from this project such as community eye centre (3,000), community screenings (2,000), school screenings (2,000) and cataract surgeries (200) through the outreach programme in a year, added the statement.

The bank said it also donated USD 51,379 (NPR 6,725,000) to MITRA Samaj. According to the bank, the amount will be used for the Cataract Blindness Alleviation Project aimed at identifying cases of avoidable blinding, including cataract, among the hard-to-reach population (especially 50+years), in priority areas of all provinces of Nepal.

Altogether 3,000 people are expected to benefit through the screenings. The bank said that 700 to 1,000 cataract cases will be identified, 1,500 people with refractive error are expected to get treated and/or receive reading glasses, and at least 700 cataract cases will be restored with vision through this project.

During the cheque handover event, Harsha Pillai, head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing at Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited (SCBNL) said that the bank aims to provide eye care services in collaboration with Nepal Eye Programme (Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology) and MITRA Samaj to those who would not have easy access or cannot afford this treatment.

“The focus is on early detection of eye ailments, referral, and appropriate treatment. Serving communities will always be at the heart of Standard Chartered,” added Pillai.

Similarly, Reeta Gurung, chief executive officer of the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, assured   that the funds will be well spent for the benefit of the needy people of Nichuta area.

Vivek Singh Thakuri, executive director of MITRA Samaj shared, "We are super excited to partner with Standard Chartered Bank to identify cases of avoidable blindness and improve people’s vision by organising free Outreach Micro Surgical Eye Clinics (OMSEC). We are looking forward to touching lives positively.”

The statement mentions that eye health care is an essential component of basic health service to be provided to all citizens as stated in the constitution of Nepal.

“Despite efforts from various stakeholders, vision impairment continues to be a major problem. With this in mind, Standard Chartered Bank has decided to make these significant donations to help provide accessible, affordable and quality eye care in the country.”