OdishaPlus Bureau
L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) along with Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) flagged off a Mobile Eye Diagnostic Van, ‘Pashyantu’ that aims to provide advanced eye care closer to people in different districts of Odisha. The mobile van was inaugurated by the honourable Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik, and would be covering every LVPEI Odisha Secondary Eye Care Centre (currently at Keonjhar, Rajgangpur, Rayagada, and Berhampur) twice a month.
Many of the eye disorders, particularly glaucoma (high pressure in the eye) and retina (diabetic retinopathy) need advanced diagnostic tests and treatment by a specialist ophthalmologist. People need to visit specialists several times a year and for several years. The cost-effective method of care is to deliver these services closer to the people. A mobile vehicle that brings the high-end equipment and the specialists regularly at fixed period is one of the solutions. ‘Pashyantu’ the mobile van with
advanced equipment would visit all district-based secondary eye care centres of LVPEI every month along with the specialists. To begin, the following four districts will be covered – Keonjhar, Sundergarh (Rajgangpur), Rayagada and Ganjam (Berhampur). ‘Pashyantu’ plying between centres will impact more than 12,000 people and at least 48,000 hospital visits across all centres annually. By the Institute’s policy, all economically underprivileged people would be treated free of cost.
Shri Naveen Patnaik, The Honourable Chief Minister of Odisha, said, “This is a great initiative by OMC and L V Prasad Eye Institute. It will take eye care to the doorstep of rural Odisha .It will greatly benefit people of Odisha in general and the people in the mining districts in particular.”
Dr. Gullapalli N Rao, Chairman, LVPEI, commended the support of both OMC and the state administration for promoting universal eye care in the state.