SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 27: Tata Steel foundation (TSF) Jharia division in collaboration with Shankara Netrayala organised a screening mega camp in its lease-hold area of operation for the selection of cataract patients at Bhelatand where 575 people were screened and 275 of them were identified for surgery under the observation of Dr Sujoy Sarkar and Dr Ahana Sen from Sankara Netralaya.
TSF official said Tundi MLA Mathura Prasad Matho inaugurated the screening camp and called upon the people of the area to take advantage of the camp organized by the company. Mayank Shekhar, chief of the Sijua group of the Jharia Division was the guest of honour on the occasion.
The official said the camp was organised as part of the community care initiative of TSF at Pemiya Rishikesh Memorial Public School, Banskapuria, Bhelatand.
“Main objective of this camp is to reach out to the aged people with cataracts in remote villages. The screening and operation facilities provided to the patients through the Mobile Eye Surgical Unit (MESU) are completely free of cost,” said TSF senior official.
MESU has been developed by Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai in collaboration with IIT Madras. With the success of this venture in Tamil Nadu, Sankara Nethralaya expanded the project with the support of Tata Trusts to Jharkhand with logistical and ground support from Tata Steel.
The official said the camp is being organised in two phases. In the first phase, screening was done from January 22 to 25 and in the second phase surgery is being done from January 27 to 30.
“Every year Tata Steel Foundation in collaboration with Sankara Nethralaya organises cataract camps in its areas of operation as part of CSR activity. In the last seven years, more than 7800 patients have been screened and 2461 patients have benefitted in the region through this initiative,” said the official.
