In order to ensure eye health for all, Sightsavers in collaboration with the College of Ophthalmology & Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS), Mayo Hospital Lahore, and District Health Authority Khanewal has initiated the Pakistan Inclusive Eye Health (PIEH) Project in district Khanewal, Punjab to ensure that quality eye care services are accessible to all special persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups.
A launch ceremony in this regard was held in district Khanewal where Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Mehar, Director General Health Services, South Punjab was the chief guest, while Professor Dr. Muhammad Moin, Principal College of Ophthalmology & Allied Vision Sciences Lahore, Professor Dr. Rashid Qamar Rao, Principal Nishter Medical College Multan, Dr. Abdul Majeed Bhatti, Chief Executive Officer, District Health Authority Khanewal, Mr. Itfaq Khaliq Khan, Senior Program Manager, Sightsavers and representatives from health department, Social Welfare department, CHIP, LRBT, Civil Society Organizations, Person with disabilities and local media also attended the event.
Under this initiative, optometry clinics have been established at 09 Rural Health Centres (RHC) and 03 Tehsil Head Quarter (THQs) hospitals of district Khanewal to establish and strengthen eye care services particularly refractive error and optical services. The project has also provided the required ophthalmic equipment in the District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital Khanewal so cataract surgeries for patients can be supported. During the past two months, the project has successfully conducted eye screening of 21,503 patients, and addressed 11, 947 refractive error cases as well as 9,798 people are advised of the use of spectacles. Besides this, 177 cataract surgeries have been supported under the project.
Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Mehar, Director General Health Services South Punjab said that PIEH Project is addressing one of the most required needs of eye care at the primary level. He appreciated the role of Sightsavers in supporting the project for the people of district Khanewal. He assured his continuous support to the project in achieving its intended outcomes. He showed his commitment to the sustainability of the project by the provincial health department beyond five years.
Mr. Itfaq Khaliq Khan, Senior Program Manager Sightsavers explained that this five-year PIEH project will reach over a million people with eye health screening services at the primary health care level while providing above 200,000 people with refractive error and optical services. He said that Sightsavers is committed to supporting federal and provincial governments for strengthening of primary eye care systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage in Pakistan and acknowledged the support and ownership by provincial health department, Punjab.
On the occasion, Professor Dr. Muhammad Moin, Principal College of Ophthalmology & Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS) Lahore said that Sightsavers and COAVS are working together to establish and strengthen the eye care services in Punjab province. He further reiterated that provision of eye care services at the primary level not only benefit the general community in timely and accurate diagnosis of eye-related issues but also reduces the unnecessary burden on secondary-level hospitals catering to the eye care needs of over 60% of the rural population.
Professor Dr. Rao Rashid Qamar, Principal of Nishtar Medical College also addressed the ceremony and appreciated the contribution made by Sightsavers and COAVS for the prevention and control of avoidable blindness in the province.
