SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 22: People in rural areas of Dhanbad will get free of cost cataract treatment as well as operation at their home. Tata Steel foundation (TSF) in collaboration with Sankara Netralaya, Chennai has organized free of cost cataract treatment and operation camp for community in its lease hold collieries areas of Jharia division in Dhanbad.
A senior official of Tata Steel Foundation Jharia Division said that the camp is being organized in two phases. In the first phase, people are being screened (November 20 to November 23) and the second phase of operation will be conducted from November 24 to November 28.
“First we are screening people and will select them for free of cost cataract operation if required,” he added.
Screening of people is being conducted at Pemiya Rishikesh Memorial Public School, Bhelatand.
Tundi MLA, Mathura Prasad Mahto, Dhanbad civil surgeon (CS) Dr. Shyam Kishore Kant was the chief guest and guest of honor respectively at the camp’s inaugural function.
“As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Tata Steel organizes such camps in its leasehold area based rural pockets for treatment of villagers every year. In the last six years, more than 5,059 patients (having cataract problems) have been screened and 1,702 of them were successfully operated,” said the official.
He also stated that the main objective of this camp is to reach out to the aged villagers having cataract ailment in remote villages. The screening and operation facilities are being provided to the patients through ‘Mobile Eye Surgical Unit’ (MESU) developed by Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai in collaboration with IIT Madras.
With the success of the venture in Tamil Nadu, Sankara Nethralaya has expanded the project in Jharkhand with support of Tata Trusts. Tata Steel has given logistical and ground support to this project.
Besides MLA and civil surgeon, Tata Steel Jharia division Jamadova chief Mayank Shekhar, Chief Medical Officer Dr Alok of Tata Central Hospital, Dr Rekha Singh, Sr Consultant Sanjeev Thakur and Head of Sijua Colliery GF Taraporewalla were also present on the occasion.
