The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
RAJGANGPUR, FEB 27, 2023
Dalmia OCL Eye Centre has completed 8 years of serving underprivileged sections of the society in Sundargarh district of Odisha. The eye hospital was jointly instituted by LV Prasad Eye Institute and Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited (earlier OCL India Limited) at Rajgangpur in 2015, with the vision of making Sundargarh district blind free. The institute, which was inaugurated by former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, achieved another milestone during this year with the total number of patients treated here going past the 1-lakh mark.
On this momentous occasion Chetan Shrivastav, Executive Director, DCBL and Unit Head-Rajgangpur; Madhuri Lugun, Chairperson, Rajgangpur Municipality; Jachin David William, Community Health President-LVPEI; Dr. Kavita Singh, Chief Medical Officer (Spandan-DCBL); Preeti Jirkuntwar, President-Sangam Mahila Mandal; and Saroj Shrivastav, President-Jagruti Mahila Mandal were present as guests. More than 120 local people, Dalmia Cement and LVPEI officials witnessed the event.
Founded with the noble vision of uplifting the lives of visually challenged people with specialist eye care services and advanced ophthalmic technologies, the eye centre has put relentless efforts in bridging the patient-doctor gap, especially considering the scarcity of ophthalmologists in the remote areas. Since its inception, Dalmia OCL Eye Centre has performed 10,799 surgeries, out of which 7,124 have been operated free of charge. The community screening program has covered 979 villages in Sundargarh district.
Speaking on this occasion, Chetan Shrivastav said, “We are delighted to complete 8 years of serving the people of Sundargarh. Through our centre, we have treated and supported over 1,00,000 patients in the last eight years. With the vision of making the district blind free, we are working towards expanding our various initiatives and door-to-door services so that it reaches far-off areas of the district. Even the local youths are being trained under the Vision Technician Training program and are engaged as eye care service providers. Throughout this eight year journey, we have received tremendous support from the local communities and multiple stakeholders from time to time. Thanks to this concerted effort, we have made significant progress towards eradicating blindness in the district.”
Further continuing its efforts to improve the lives of its neighboring communities, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. (DCBL) signed a MoU with Bhubaneswar-based LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) for launching Project Drushti. This initiative has been linked to the requirements of the people of the region. After conducting baseline surveys in Rajgangpur and Kutra blocks adjoining Lanjiberna mines area, eye patients are being identified in a phased manner and offered free treatment in association with LVPEI. Close to 50,000 people in the area will benefit from this initiative, the company said.
Retina Specialist Dr. Prateek Kishan Lakhmawar highlighted the achievements of LV Prasad Eye Institute Dalmia OCL Eye Centre. Cornea Specialist Dr. Saloni Sinha gave a welcome speech introducing the guests and in the end Dr. Alka Sonkeshri of Oculoplastics Department gave a vote of thanks.
