Speaking at a two-day workshop organized in Biratnagar by Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS), ophthalmologists said that the Vision 2020 has been affected as no eye care treatment and eye camps has been organized in hilly districts of the eastern region.
The workshop, which kicked off on Saturday, will hold discussion with stakeholders and prepare future strategies for eye care centers in Tarai region of the eastern region for achieving the Vision 2020 goal.
"Eye care facilities are available in almost 90 percent areas in most parts of the Tarai region. But it is also necessary to extend eye care treatments in the hilly region too," said Tritha Prasad Mishra, president of the NNJS.
According to him, locals in the hilly districts are also suffering from various blinding diseases. The eye care centers operating in the Tarai region should organize eye camps in the hilly region and prevent and address the problem of blindness.
Participants at the workshop also suggested that the agencies concerned should organize regular eye camps in the hilly districts of the eastern region.
"Locals in the hilly region are in desperate need of well equipped hospitals. The government should construct eye hospitals in the region," said Bam Dev Khanal, treasurer of the NNJS.
Likewise, NNJS members said that the eye treatment camps have not been effective in the hilly districts of Koshi and Sagarmatha Zone.
Meanwhile, Officials of Biratnagar Eye Hospital claimed that they have already initiated eye care programs in Khotang, Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha, Diktel and Udayapur, among other hilly districts in the eastern region.
Shyam Pokharel, general secretary of NNJS said several eye treatment programs are in the offing as the government has also increased budget for eliminating eye-related disease in the hilly region.
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