Blindness

NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR CONTROL OF BLINDNESS (NPCB), MIZORAM

National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) was launched in the year 1976 with the goal of achieving a prevalence rate of 0.3% of population by 2020.

The implementation of the programme was decentralized in 1994-95 with formation of District Health Society in each district of the country. The District Health Society is expected to enhance the coverage and improve quality of eye care services in the district

Objectives : 

Main objectives are:-

To reduce the backlog of blindness through identification and treatment of blind

To provide comprehensive eye care services and quality service delivery by NPCB.

To strengthen and develop human resources for providing eye care services

To enhance awareness on eye care and prevention measures

To secure participation of voluntary organization/private practitioners in eye care

Focus areas for 12^th five year plan :

Free Cataract operations

Assistance to NGO to look after other eye diseases

School eye screening for refractive errors

Free spectacles for poor school age group and old persons

Setting up Vision Centres

Collection of eyeballs from Eye Banks and Eye Donation Centres

Construction of Eye Wards and Eye OTs

Involvement of NGO and private practitioners in the programme

Training of eye care personnels

Intensive use of IEC for mass awareness

Engagement of Opthalmic Surgeons and Opthalmic Assistants on contractual basis

Maintenance of Opthalmic instruments supplied to various centres

Monitoring through Management Information System

STATE PROFILE

The state is bordering by Myanmar in the east and south and the Bangladesh in the west, Mizoram occupies an area of great strategic importance in the north eastern corner of India. It has a total of 630 miles boundary with Myanmar and Bangladesh. Mizoram has the most variegated hilly terrain in the eastern part of India. The hills are steep and are separated by rivers that flow either to the north or the south creating deep gorges between the hill ranges. Mizoram has become the 23^rd State of the Union in February 1987. Mizoram is a state with one of the highest literacy rates in India. Situated on the extreme south of the north eastern India, it is a land of unending natural beauty with an array of flora and fauna. It has 40 seats of legislative assembly. One member each represents the state in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The population of Mizoram is 0.89 million according to 2001 census and is scattered over 9 districts, 26 blocks and 817 villages. The state has the density of 42 persons per sq.km. The sex ratio of Mizoram at 935 females to 1000 males is higher than the national average of 933. The capital of Mizoram is Aizawl.

NATIONAL BLINDNESS CONTROL PROGRAMME IN MIZORAM.

Infrastructure

Manpower

1. No. of Free Cataract Operation is 1806 nos. i.e., 72.24%.
2. Teachers trained is 131 nos..
3. No. of School children screened is 1664 nos.
4. No. of school children detected Refractive Error is 3366 nos.
5. No. of free spectacles provided to school children is 2716 nos. 106%.
6. No. of free spectacles provided to old age person is 2870 nos. 115%
7. No. of Cornea collected is 22 nos..
8. No. of cornea transplant is 3 nos..
9. There are 14 Eye Surgeons and 48 Ophthalmic Assistants – 19 (Govt.) and 30 (Contractual).
10. In spite of Covid Pandemic Eye Surgeons & Ophthalmic Assistants were conducting Eye Camp (Free surgical/School Eye Screening camp etc. at remote/rural area.  Especially, providing Free Spectacles to School Children and providing free spectacles to old age, achievement were more than 100%.
11. The first human organ transplant Centre in Mizoram, Eye Bank/Eye Donation Centre is located at Aizawl District Hospital (Civil Hospital, Aizawl) and also Eye Donation Centre at Synod Hospital, Durtlang (established on 2018-19).

 Achievement during 2018-2019

ACHIEVEMENTS 2017 – 2018 

National Programme for Control of Blindness was launched in India in the year 1976 as a 100% centrally sponsored scheme with the goal of reducing the prevalence of blindness from 1.49 % to 0.8 % by 2007. In Mizoram NPCB&VI was started during 1982 – 1983. Cataract and Refractive Error are the major causes of blindness.

Achievement under NPCB&VI, Mizoram during 2017 – 2018 is as follows:

• No. of Cataract Operation is 1774.
• No of teacher trained in screening for Refractive Errors is 656.
• No. of School children screened are 35571.
• No. of school children detected Refractive Error is 3895.
• No. of School going children provided with free glasses to poor children is 803.
• No. of distribution of spectacles to old persons suffering from presbyopia are 1062.
• No. of eye donated is 80.
• No. of eye transplanted is 53.
• No of Glaucoma is 220 .
• No of diabetic Retinopathy is 200
• No. of Childhood Blindness is 2
• No of trachoma – nil.
• No of Squint is 295 .
• No of Retinopathy of Prematurity is 20 .
• No of Low Vision is 130 .
• No of corneal Blindness is 30 .
• No of other Eye diseases detected is 30452 .

During Glaucoma Week which was observed during 12^th – 18^th March, 2017, free Eye Screening was conducted in the States and also in all the districts. The total number of Patients screened were 1347 and 10 Glaucoma cases were detected and referred to specialist in the District Hospital.

Eye Camp was held at 4 districts viz. Mamit, Lawngtlai District, Serchhip, Lunglei and the total no. of patients operated for Cataractwere135. Hospital based Eye Camp was conducted inAizawl Civil Hospital, Kolasib, Champhai and Lunglei district.

Eye Donation Forthnight was observed during 25^th Aug – 8^th Sept, 2017 at _ Auditorium. Donor families received certificates for donating their eyes. Hon’ble Health Minister was the Chief Guest in the inaugural function.

World Sight Day was observed on 12^th October 2017 at the

PHYSICAL ACHIEVEMENTS DURING 2016 – 17

Achievement under NPCB, Mizoram during 2016 – 2017 are as follows :

• No. of Cataract Operation is two thousand one hundred and ten. (2120 nos.)
• No. of School children screened is twenty eight thousand two hundred and thirty six. (28236 nos.)
• No. of school Teacher trained is one thousand sixty five. (1065 nos.)
• No. of school children detected Refractive Error is four thousand six hundred and fifty eight. (4658 nos.)
• No. of free spectacle provided to poor children is eight hundred and forty eight. (848 nos.)
• No. of Distribution of the spectacles to old persons suffering from presbyopia is seven hundred fifty five.
• No. of eye ball collect is one hundred and two for eye transplant (102 nos.)
• No. of eye transplant is fifty. (50 nos.)

Target and Achievement during 2014 - 2015 :

CATARACT OPERATION

SCHOOL EYE SCREENING

MIZORAM EYE BANK