BHAKTAPUR, July 15: A retina eye treatment program, 'Retina Eye Care Nepal' has been launched at the Eye, Nose, Ear, Throat and Child Hospital and Rehabilitation Center based at Manohara of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality – 16. 

Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Masahi Ogawa, inaugurated the service launched jointly with support of BP Eye Foundation and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). 

On the occasion, the Japanese Ambassador spoke of the harmonious relations existing between Nepal and Japan, and shared a belief that the program would help take the relations to new heights. 

BP Eye Foundation Chairman, Purna Chandra Karmacharya, said the program would help provide service in the community level to deal with the problem of retina treatment. 

Hospital's Director, Dr Sanjeev Upadhaya, said the program, which was started with an objective to facilitate the access to retina treatment to a common citizen, would run for three years. 

During the period, doctors will be trained to enhance their capability of treating the diseases associated with retina. The program is being run under an investment of Rs 30.54 million in coordination with Tokushima University and support from JICA. 

In Nepal, of the total eye patients, 23 per cent are found to be suffering from retinal disorders. RSS