
Ashakirana Kendras to offer free cataract surgeries
This was in collaboration with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), National Health Mission, National Blindness and Visual Impairment Control Programme and Sight Saver Swayamsevak Sanstha. With 11 such centres spread across BBMP, the municipality aims to offer free cataract surgeries and spectacles to the poor and needy free of cost.
"Among the 11 Ashakirana Drishti Kendras, five centres will be provided with human resources, surgical equipment and spectacle distribution services under CSR initiatives," said Sirajuddin Madani, Chief Health Officer (CHO), BBMP. He added these centres are part of a total of 393 designated Ashakirana Vision Centres operating in Karnataka.
The CHO also added that the facility will be available at JJR Nagar Public Hospital, Halasuru Maternity Hospital, H Siddaiah Road Maternity Hospital, Hosahalli Maternity Hospital, R C Pura Maternity Hospital, Banashankari Maternity Hospital, Gauri Palya Maternity Hospital, Rampur Hospital, Indiranagar Public Hospital, Jayanagar Public Hospital and KC General Hospital, Malleswaram. Local MLA Priya Krishna, Special Commissioner of the Health Department Suralkar Vikas Kishore, National Health Mission Director Avinash Memon Rajendran, Zonal Joint Commissioner Sangappa and other officials were present.
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New Indian Express
7 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Ashakirana Kendras to offer free cataract surgeries
BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister and Bangalore Urban Development Minister DK Shivakumar and Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao inaugurated the "Ashakirana Drishti Kendra" at Dr Balagangadharanath Swamiji Multi-Speciality Hospital in Govindarajanagar M C Layout on Thursday. This was in collaboration with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), National Health Mission, National Blindness and Visual Impairment Control Programme and Sight Saver Swayamsevak Sanstha. With 11 such centres spread across BBMP, the municipality aims to offer free cataract surgeries and spectacles to the poor and needy free of cost. "Among the 11 Ashakirana Drishti Kendras, five centres will be provided with human resources, surgical equipment and spectacle distribution services under CSR initiatives," said Sirajuddin Madani, Chief Health Officer (CHO), BBMP. He added these centres are part of a total of 393 designated Ashakirana Vision Centres operating in Karnataka. The CHO also added that the facility will be available at JJR Nagar Public Hospital, Halasuru Maternity Hospital, H Siddaiah Road Maternity Hospital, Hosahalli Maternity Hospital, R C Pura Maternity Hospital, Banashankari Maternity Hospital, Gauri Palya Maternity Hospital, Rampur Hospital, Indiranagar Public Hospital, Jayanagar Public Hospital and KC General Hospital, Malleswaram. Local MLA Priya Krishna, Special Commissioner of the Health Department Suralkar Vikas Kishore, National Health Mission Director Avinash Memon Rajendran, Zonal Joint Commissioner Sangappa and other officials were present.


Deccan Herald
18 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
WHO to document Karnataka's 'Asha Kirana' as global eye care model
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed interest in Karnataka's 'Asha Kirana' initiative, which provides doorstep eye care, and plans to share its success story with other countries and regions. The WHO has proposed a comprehensive assessment of the initiative to further strengthen the programme and generate valuable insights and best practices for other regions aiming to implement integrated, people-centred eye care. In a letter to Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, WHO Representative to India, Dr Roderico H Ofrin, appreciated the state government for conceptualising and effectively implementing the 'Asha Kirana' initiative. "This innovative model, launched under your leadership, marks significant progress towards eliminating avoidable blindness and ensuring equitable access to comprehensive eye care across the state. We are particularly encouraged by how 'Asha Kirana' aligns with the WHO's Integrated People-Centred Eye Care (IPEC) framework," Ofrin wrote in the letter dated June 30. Recognising its impact and scalability, the WHO expressed keen interest in systematically documenting the state's model. Such an evaluation, Ofrin noted, will help strengthen the programme while providing lessons and best practices for other regions and countries.


New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
WHO proposes documenting Karnataka's Asha Kirana initiative
BENGALURU: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has proposed to independently document Karnataka's Asha Kirana initiative - an eye care programme launched by the state government- as a global model for integrated and people centred eye health. In a letter addressed to Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, WHO's India representative Dr Roderico H Ofrin said the organisation will carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the programme using its standard tools — Eye Care Situation Analysis Tool (ECSAT) and Eye Care Indicator Menu (ECIM). The aim is to assess the initiative's processes, outcomes, and best practices, and contribute to global knowledge-sharing in eye care. The exercise will be conducted independently by WHO at no cost to the state, the letter said. The UN health body has also requested the state government to nominate a nodal officer to coordinate the documentation process. The Asha Kirana initiative, launched by the state government to deliver 'eye care at your doorstep,' has been appreciated by WHO for aligning with its Integrated People-Centred Eye Care (IPEC) framework. The programme integrates eye care into the primary health system, focuses on early detection and prevention, and ensures services reach vulnerable populations through community-based interventions. WHO praised the state's phased approach to expanding the programme and said the initiative serves as a strong example of how equitable and accessible eye care can be delivered through a public health system.