In a groundbreaking partnership, Titan Company and Sankara Eye Hospital have initiated a pioneering program in Tamil Nadu to address the significant challenge of cataract blindness backlog. With a remarkable achievement of screening over 224,000 individuals and performing 3,174 free cataract surgeries, the initiative marks a transformative milestone in community eye care.
Implemented through the innovative Key Informant Methodology (KIM), the company in a press statement on Monday informed that the program engaged local communities in identifying and treating eye diseases, equipping them with essential skills and resources. This grassroots approach has resulted in the successful treatment of 17,001 individuals with various eye ailments, including the provision of 9,153 free corrective spectacles. Furthermore, the collaboration extended its services to encompass the treatment of other eye disorders such as Glaucoma, Retina, Cornea, and Occuloplasty, with a total of 367 speciality surgical procedures conducted thus far.
In Annur Taluk alone, the program achieved an outstanding 100 per cent coverage of all villages, performing 884 surgeries and distributing 3,927 spectacles within 18 months. Titan's monthly Gift Of Vision outreach camps, which typically saw 10 to 12 cases per month, have witnessed a significant increase in participation, now quadrupling in numbers. Notably, the initiative has not only restored sight but also empowered communities, yielding an estimated societal benefit of Rs. 14.32 Crores.
N E Sridhar, Chief Sustainability Officer of Titan Company, expressed pride in the project's outcomes, highlighting Titan's commitment to social responsibility and community welfare. "Titan is honoured to support this historic initiative, which has brought light and hope to thousands across Tamil Nadu. We stand with Sankara Eye Hospital in our shared mission to pioneer impactful change in people's lives. As we celebrate the accomplishments achieved thus far, we remain resolute in our mission to drive awareness for eye health for a brighter future. Together with Sankara Eye Hospital and our collaborative efforts, we are committed towards our shared vision of a cataract-free Tamil Nadu.”
The Key Informant Methodology (KIM) is a revolutionary social mobilisation strategy aimed at enabling community-based diagnosis, treatment, and provision of assistive devices for people with disabilities in hard-to-reach regional and rural areas. Key Informants, including Self Help Groups, college students, Panchayat staff, and local NGO personnel, were trained to conduct basic eye screenings and facilitate online data collection, supported by Titan's medical team.
Moving forward, the program will continue to ensure comprehensive treatment for all remaining blind patients, advancing towards the vision of a cataract-free Tamil Nadu.
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