In September 2018, Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) India launched the Namma Kannu Namma Doddaballapura program with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of Karnataka to make Doddaballapura the first Indian region to be free from uncorrected refractive errors by 2021. With implementation partners, Prerana Trust and Drishti Eye Hospital, EVF would bring quality eye care door-to-door to all 325,000 people across 290 villages and 33 urban wards in the region over 24 months.
Today we are pleased to report that in the last eight months, we have visited all the households in 100 villages and 10 urban wards, reaching 50,000 people. For those not at home during our visits, we left information brochures highlighting the importance of good vision and how they can visit their nearest mobile eye camps to get their eyes checked. Thanks to our efforts, 26,000 got their eyes screened and 10,000 with uncorrected refractive error received free glasses.
We are really happy with our progress but we are not stopping here because there’s still a lot of ground to cover and more people to reach before we can achieve our goal.
“We are really happy with our progress but we are not stopping here because there’s still a lot of ground to cover and more people to reach before we can achieve our goal. To date, this is the largest project EVF India has launched to help local communities lead healthier and more productive lives with better sight,” says Milind Jadhav, Senior Director, Inclusive Business, Philanthropy & Social Impact, Indian Sub-Continent, Essilor.
As part of the Namma Kannu Namma Doddaballapura initiative, a team of trained personnel will visit every household in the villages and urban wards of Doddaballapura to conduct eye screenings, dispense glasses if needed and spread awareness on the importance of good vision. People with complex vision correction needs who can’t be equipped on the spot will be referred to a mobile eye camp in the closest ward. There they will receive a comprehensive eye exam carried out by staff from Drishti Eye Hospital. Within 15 days, a pair of customized corrective glasses will be delivered to their doorstep.