District administration launches first-of-its-kind ‘Blindness-free Shivamogga’ initiative
Shivamogga: In a pioneering move aimed at eliminating preventable blindness, the Shivamogga district administration has launched “Blindness-free Shivamogga”, the first initiative of its kind in Karnataka.
“This is a holistic approach to treating people with eye disorders, irrespective of their financial status. The programme begins this month,” Deccan Herald quoted Kiran, District Leprosy Control Officer and programme in-charge, as saying.
Unlike the national blindness control programme where patients must visit clinics on their own, Blindness-Free Shivamogga reverses the model. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) workers will conduct door-to-door screenings using a mobile app developed specifically for the initiative. The app contains questions on visual health. Based on responses, ASHA workers identify potential patients and refer them to nearby sub-health centres for primary screening.
“Medical services are free for people from all sections of society, not just for BPL families. This has not been done anywhere in the country,” added Kiran.
The scheme is the brainchild of Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) N. Hemanth. He emphasised the critical need for early intervention. “Many people are not aware of this and they consult ophthalmologists when the problem reaches the final stage. Blindness-free Shivamogga is designed to overcome exactly this,” DH quoted as Hemanth as saying.
To widen the programme’s footprint, expert doctors will visit villages through coordination with gram panchayats and Primary Health Centres (PHCs). Over 250 sub-health centres will be involved in the eye screening process across the district’s population of 18 lakh. Hemanth estimates that more than half of the population may suffer from some form of eye disorder.
“Till now, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy were not being addressed in general hospitals. Only private hospitals were attending to such patients and people had to spend a lot of money. We are providing free treatment,” DH quoted Hemanth as saying.
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Man arrested for for raping mute woman in Jamshedpur
Jamshedpur (PTI): One person was arrested on the charge of raping a 30-year-old woman with speech impairment in Jamshedpur, a police officer said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred in the Azadnagar police station area of the city, and a case in this regard was registered based on the statement of the victim's brother on Monday.
The victim had gone to fetch water from the premises of a company on Monday evening. When she did not return even after a considerable time, family members went out in search of her and caught the accused red-handed, police said.
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The accused was a caretaker of the company.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Patamda) Bachandeo Kujjur said due to scarcity of water in the area, the victim used to fetch water from the premises of the company.
