Eye screening drive for adults, schoolchildren launched in Varanasi
Varanasi (PTI): A vision screening campaign targeting adults and schoolchildren in rural areas was launched here to expand access to primary eye care and facilitate early detection of vision problems, officials said on Saturday.
The initiative, launched on Friday, is being implemented by the India Vision Institute (IVI) in partnership with CreditAccess India Foundation, the CSR arm of CreditAccess Grameen Limited.
The programme aims to take basic eye screening services closer to communities and classrooms, with provisions for referral and follow-up care wherever required.
IVI Chief Executive Officer Vinod Daniel said timely primary eye care interventions can have a direct impact on learning outcomes and productivity by addressing uncorrected refractive errors at an early stage.
Officials associated with the programme said the campaign would work with local stakeholders to ensure smooth delivery of screenings and continuity of care, particularly for school-going children and working adults, with the broader objective of reducing avoidable vision impairment.
CreditAccess India Foundation Chief Operating Officer Satish Rao said the collaboration was focused on improving access to essential eye care services at the community level, while its Chief Business Officer Gopal Reddy said initiatives such as accessible vision care contribute to education and livelihoods.
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China confirms its support to Pakistan during four-day conflict with India
Beijing (PTI): China, for the first time, has confirmed that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during the four-day conflict with India last year, official media reports here said.
China's state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday aired an interview with Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China's (AVIC) Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, a key developer of China’s advanced fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle design.
Zhang had provided technical support to Pakistan during the four-day war last May, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported, quoting CCTV.
Pakistan's air force operates a fleet of Chinese-made J-10CE jets, produced by an AVIC subsidiary.
"At the support base, we frequently heard the roar of fighter jets taking off and the constant wail of air-raid sirens. By late morning, in May, the temperature was already approaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). It was a real ordeal for us, both mentally and physically,” Zhang said.
What drove his team was the "desire to do an even better job with on site support” and to ensure their equipment could “truly perform at its full combat potential”, Zhang told CCTV.
“That wasn’t just a recognition of the J10CE; it was also a testament to the deep bond we formed through working side by side, day in and day out,” he said.
