From the desk of VISION 2020 India

By Dr Rajesh Noah, Executive Director

VISION 2020 : India

1. A roadmap for Advocacy for eye health will be prepared by about 45 participants. We will meet over a period of two days at Delhi on May 13th and 14th. This workshop will be led by Mr RD Thulasiraj (LAICO, AECS), along with Mr Mathew Cherian (HelpAge India). We have made an audio-presentation and preworkshop reading materials available at http://www.vision2020india.org/homepage.asp

2. We have recently concluded our 26th Board Meeting at Nagpur, hosted by Dr Vinay Nangia (Suraj Eye Institute). They are also doing exciting work on Diabetes (in the Central India Eye and Medical Study). The ORBIS Funded paediatric unit was inaugurated by Mr NP Pandya (HV Desai Eye Hospital). The 26th Board Meeting was a milestone Board Meeting in our history as the Board has initiated the following practice to more effectively engage our member institutions, appreciate their work and also enhance and build up a technical body of knowledge through conducting Continuing Medical Education (CME) in Community Ophthalmology. We had sharing of experiences by Dr GV Rao, Dr Sara Varughese, Dr Vikas Mahatme, Dr RD Ravindran, Dr Taraprasad Das, Mr G Ganesh. In future, we will continue to follow this pattern, i.e., (1) An affirmative, appreciative visit to our member institutions, (2) Board Meeting, and (3) Scientific Program (CME). We also have another institution as our member – Evista Eye Care Centre, a ISO & NABH certified organization led by Dr Sanjay Jaiswal.

Van supported by Sightsavers South India Area at Suraj Eye Institute , Nagpur

3. The Board also agreed to assist NPCB, GOI in developing a strategy for North East India; a combined team will be visiting Assam and Meghalaya from 25th – 30th April. Phase II will consist of a Stakeholders Workshop to identify the needs and gaps and see how various stakeholders can work with NPCB, GOI and States to plug in these gaps. Exciting and challenging opportunity. We have had immediate positive responses from Sightsavers International, LCIF, CBM, Light For the World, Operation Eyesight International. Dr Jennifer Basaiwmoit has agreed to become our point-person for North East.

4. The Board decided to split up the East Zone and create another zone for these 8 states in North East India. We also decided to split up the North Zone to create a Central Zone – Dr BK Jain has volunteered to help us out. We now have the following representatives / point persons: North Zone (Ms Tanuja Joshi), South Zone (Ms K Mani Mala), West Zone (Dr (Col) M Deshpande, East Zone (Mr Paritosh Das) and Central Zone (Dr BK Jain).