CM Siddaramaiah to launch Asha Kirana, doorstep eyecare scheme, in Haveri tomorrow

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will launch the ‘Asha Kirana–Eye Care at Your Doorstep’ under the aegis of National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI), in Haveri on February 18.

Under the Asha Kirana scheme, comprehensive eye checkups will be done for individuals across all age groups. Free
spectacles will be provided to the visually impaired and cataract surgeries will be done free of cost, according to a statement by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

With the objective of reducing prevalence of avoidable blindness, Asha Kirana has already been implemented successfully in eight districts in two phases. The first phase covered Chikkaballapur, Kalaburagi, Haveri and Chamarajanagar, while the second phase includes Chitradurga, Mandya, Raichur and Uttara Kannada districts. These initiatives have yielded promising results, with millions of individuals benefiting from primary and secondary screenings and cataract surgeries, the statement said.

Asha Kirana campaign represents a significant stride towards addressing the gap in eye health services availability. Health personnel and ASHA workers conduct primary eye check-ups for individuals of all age groups directly at their homes. Those who have eye problems during the screening are referred to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) for secondary screening.

Individuals requiring spectacles undergo examination by ophthalmologists at the PHC and receive them free of cost based on their level of vision impairment. Free surgeries will be performed for cataract patients at government hospitals and hospitals of registered voluntary organisations.

In the first phase, a total of 5,659,036 people underwent primary screening (averaging 84%), of whom 8,28,784 people underwent further screening. Out of these, 245,587 beneficiaries have been identified for distribution of spectacles, and 39,336 people have undergone cataract surgery, the statement said.

In the second, a total of 5,277,235 people underwent primary screening (averaging 71%), out of which 943,398 people were diagnosed with eye-related problems. Further treatment, including the distribution of spectacles and surgery will be provided.

The Asha Kirana programme will expand its reach to additional districts in subsequent phases. Ramanagara, Yadgir, Kodagu, and Gadag are earmarked for the next phase (2024 -25), followed by Chikkamagaluru, Bidar,Kolar, and Bagalkot in 2025-26. This phased approach ensures that eye care services are extended
comprehensively across the state.

Karnataka has over 6.5 crore population and is one of the well performing states with respect to eye care. These mega eye camps will amplify the coverage of beneficiaries, prevent early complications and thereby improve the quality of life, the statement added.