NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR CONTROL OF BLINDNESS (NPCB)

National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) was launched in the year 1976 with the goal of achieving a prevalence rate of 0.3% of population by 2020.

The implementation of the programme was decentralized in 1994-95 with formation of District Health Society in each district of the country. The District Health Society is expected to enhance the coverage and improve quality of eye care services in the district

Objectives :

Main objectives are:-

To reduce the backlog of blindness through identification and treatment of blind

To provide comprehensive eye care services and quality service delivery by NPCB.

To strengthen and develop human resources for providing eye care services

To enhance awareness on eye care and prevention measures

To secure participation of voluntary organization/private practitioners in eye care

Focus areas for 12^th five year plan :

Free Cataract operations

Assistance to NGO to look after other eye diseases

School eye screening for refractive errors

Free spectacles for poor school age group and old persons

Setting up Vision Centres

Collection of eyeballs from Eye Banks and Eye Donation Centres

Construction of Eye Wards and Eye OTs

Involvement of NGO and private practitioners in the programme

Training of eye care personnels

Intensive use of IEC for mass awareness

Engagement of Opthalmic Surgeons and Opthalmic Assistants on contractual basis

Maintenance of Opthalmic instruments supplied to various centres

Monitoring through Management Information System

 

NATIONAL BLINDNESS CONTROL PROGRAMME IN MIZORAM.

Infrastructure

Sl. No.	Particulars	Total strength
1.	Dedicated eye wards and OTs	8
2.	Vision Centres by Govt.	27
3.	Tele-Vision Centres by NGO S.A.T.H.I.	nil
4.	Multipurpose Mobile Opth. Units	15
5.	Eye Bank	1
6.	Eye Donation Centre	2
7.	NGO with Cataract facility	3
8.	Private Hospital with Cat-op. facility
9.	PMOA training Centre	1

Manpower

Sl.No.	Manpower	Total
1.	Eye Surgeons	12
2.	Opthalmic Assistants	14 (Regular) + 29(contract)
3.	Opthalmic Nurses	nil
4.	Data Entry Operators	10 (contract)
5.	Eye Donation counsellors	2 (contract)
6.	Budget & Finance officer	1 (contract)
7	Statistical Assistant	1 (contract)
8.	IV grade	2 (contract)

Free Cataract Operation by NGO and private practitioners :-

Cataract is the dominant cause of blidnness as it accounts for nearly two third of blind population. The purpose of cataract surgery is to restore vision of the affected person through provision of package of services that can enable the person to gain sight and return to his normal working as before. The focus of NPCB is specifically targeted towards providing services in rural/tribal and other difficult areas. Physical target for the state of Mizoram during 2022 – 23 is 6900.

Cataract Operations are performed at the State and District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals/CHCs, and at the Synod Hospital, Durtlang, Aizawl run by the Presbyterian Church. It may be mentioned that the Synod Hospital is identified as one of the base hospital for Cataract Operation. Surgical (Cataract) Eye Camps were organized by District Blindness Control programme in which Eye Surgeons working under Mizoram Govt. and Presbyterian Hospital.

Base camps are organized and operations performed by both Govt. Institutions and NGO.  Reimbursement of cataract operations per patient is given to Rs.2000/- on NGOs. and Rs 1000/- on Govt. Institutions.

Assistance for consumables/drugs/medicines amounting to Rs.1000/- per case of Cataract operations are also given to District Hospitals, State Hospital and others who are performing the operation.

School Eye Screening Programme :-

These activities included organization of screening camps at school or visits for school eye screening programme, monitoring and supervisory visits and other eye care activities. These programme is very important while it is estimated that nearly 50% of blind children should be suffering form preventable or curable blindness due to cataract, corneal opacity and retinal disorders. Efforts should be made to identify underlying cause of blindness, assess chances of sight restoration and provide best possible treatment to the affected population. It is urgent to take up this activity and manege curable blindness in children as a priority intervention.

During 2022 – 2023, 34839 school children were screened and 4684 refractive errors found and corrected. For the year of 2022 – 2023, more 6,000 nos of children is expected to screen in this programme.

Screening and free spectacles to Old persons :

The target for the current year is 2000. This is very helpful in Eye Camps where free services are rendered. Older people need corrective lenses and this reassurance is indeed the contributing factor for success of Blind and cataract survey. The population of Mizoram is about 10.91 lakhs. Considering 60 years and above as 5.5 % will come to around 1 lakh and above 50 years as 20 % will come to 3 lakhs population. Most of the above 60 and some of 50+ will be requiring correcting lenses

Recurring GIA to Eye Bank :-

An Eye Bank will mean an organization that is :

1) Registered under “The transplantation of Human Organs, Act 1994”

2) Provide a round the clock public response system for eye donation;

3) Coordinate with donor families and hospitals to motivate eye donation;

4) Harvest corneal tissue not less than 50 eyes in a year.

5) Collect/process and evaluate the collected tissue and blood for serology;

6) Distribute tissue in an equitable manner to organizations having capacity for corneal transplantation;

7) Ensure safe tranportation of tissue.

8) conduct health personnel and public awareness programs on eye donation.

Home For the Blind

Institution : The Salvation Army : Home for the Blind

Establishment: 15^th April 1977

Location : Vengthar Kolasib, Mizoram

Employee: 10 nos

Capacity : 10 nos

No. Of building:

Main building – 1 no

Study Room – 1 no

Music Room – 1 no