The “Project for Provision of Eye Medical Equipment at Shija Hospital, Imphal West, Manipur” was inaugurated at Shija Foundation, Manipur on Wednesday by Shingo Miyamoto, Minister, Economic and Development, Embassy of Japan in India.
TFM Desk
Patients in Manipur suffering from Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and other Vitreo-Retinal diseases no longer need to go outside the state to avail of such care anymore as they have better eye healthcare at the doorstep.
The “Project for Provision of Eye Medical Equipment at Shija Hospital, Imphal West, Manipur” was inaugurated at Shija Foundation, Manipur on Wednesday by Shingo Miyamoto, Minister, Economic and Development, Embassy of Japan in India.
The project was funded by the government of Japan under its GGP (Grant Assistance for the Grassroots Projects) Scheme as a part of its Official Development Assistance Scheme to developing countries around the world. A total of 65,225 USD has been given to Shija Foundation under this scheme. This grant is given as a token of friendship between Japan and India from the people of Japan.
Shingo Miyamoto was the guest of honor, Ryuhei Nishi, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in India, and Babita, Project Coordinator, GGP were special guests at the inaugural ceremony. Minister Miyamoto also expressed the significance of these grassroots projects that actually affect the lives of common people on the ground.
Shija Foundation expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the people of Japan for their generous assistance to the people of Manipur.
According to a press statement, it is estimated that 4% of the total population of Manipur is suffering from Diabetes and people suffering from diabetes are at the risk for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). The aid assisted the procurement of Glaucoma Laser (used for managing painful blind eye), Visual Field Analyzer (VFA- used for Glaucoma detection), B Scan with UBM (Ultrasound Bio Microscope- used to visualize the structure of eyeball when the media is opaque), and Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (AS OCT- used to analyse the anterior segment).
These devices are primarily designed to bridge the gap in treatment for Glaucoma and DR, two of the most common causes of blindness and visual impairment in the state. With the installation of these devices, early diagnosis and intervention for glaucoma and DR patients in the state can be targeted and treated. It would also help to reduce the burden of blindness and low vision due to Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, and other Vitreo- Retinal diseases in the underserved population of Manipur, said the statement.
The statement further said Shija Foundation is currently contributing more than 50% of the total cataract surgeries done in Manipur with around 2000-2500 cataract surgeries every year. The foundation also conducts regular outreach camps (more than 400 camps) in different regions of the state and observes important health days like World sight day, World Glaucoma week, etc. It facilitates subsidized treatment for socially marginalized people. The foundation also conducts community-based peripheral outreach camps in rural and tribal areas. These outreach activities have also been extended to the neighbouring country in Myanmar in association with the Indian Embassy of Myanmar and Government of Manipur, it added.