Community eye care
Working with communities and supporters to bring quality eye care closer to villages across Bihar.
Through this program, anyone can adopt one or more villages for quality eye care and help eliminate curable and avoidable blindness in society. Initially, we received support from different agencies, institutions and philanthropists to sponsor free cataract surgeries. In January 2019, we came in contact with BFO-USA and collaborated to support 200 surgeries in the beginning.
During a meeting with BFO-USA in June 2019, the concept of Village Adoption was conceived and a program named "Adopt a Village" was initiated. As it was a pilot project, we decided to start on a small scale in a village with a population of around 1,000. The first village covered was Umarpur village in Saran district, sponsored by Mr. Shatrughna Sinha, an executive committee member of BFO-USA. In the pilot phase, six villages were covered, with more than 500 surgeries and over 1,000 spectacles distributed for refractive-error correction.
After the success of the pilot project, we decided to scale it up and launched the "Village Adoption Program towards Avoidable Blindness-Free Villages", with a complete description of its background, concept, methodology, sustainability, financial support and donor acknowledgement. We decided to serve larger villages with populations of around 3,000. Local leaders, including Mukhiyas, Sarpanchs and other social activists, asked us to adopt whole panchayats instead of single villages. We therefore scaled up the programme again and added a "Panchayat Adoption Program", covering a panchayat of approximately 10,000 people.
Community-led
Local groups connect residents with screening and care.
Care closer to home
Screening, counselling and treatment support.
Distribution cited on the programme page.
| Probable causes | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Cataract | 62.40% |
| Refractive Errors | 19.65% |
| Glaucoma | 05.83% |
| Posterior Segment Causes | 04.72% |
| Corneal Opacity | 00.89% |
| Posterior Capsular Opacification | 00.89% |
| Surgical Complications | 01.15% |
| Others including phthisis, absent globe and amblyopia | 04.47% |
Avoidable blindness-free villages
The programme aims to make examinations and treatment for curable eye conditions accessible to all villagers, regardless of gender, caste or creed, so avoidable vision loss can be treated. SSLN defines the target condition on the archived page as presenting visual acuity below 6/60 in the better eye with a curable condition.
The archived page notes visual impairment as a public-health concern in Bihar, estimates prevalence at 1.6%, and cites cataract as a major cause of bilateral blindness, accounting for 50–80% in reported studies. It also identifies poor-quality surgery and post-operative complications as further causes.
Community participation and accessible services work together to support lasting change.
SSLN combines community participation with eye-care services. Elected representatives, opinion leaders, youth groups, self-help groups and frontline workers such as AWWs and ASHAs support the process. Field Coordinators, supported by the Senior Coordinator (Outreach), conduct group meetings and door-to-door surveys.
Identify and select a village
Mobilise the community
Complete a door-to-door survey
Conduct an eye-screening programme
Provide health awareness
Offer individual counselling
Arrange treatment
Hold a declaration meeting
Document the work and outcomes
Documentation, individual counselling, health awareness and treatment may continue over time rather than taking place at one point alone.
During village declaration, health education, screening and counselling encourage people to use available services, increase knowledge and strengthen health-seeking behaviour. Community ownership remains vital after a village is declared and supports continued uptake of services.
SSLN carries out the programme and seeks support for human resources and behaviour-change communication from individuals, clubs, families, agencies and institutions adopting a village. Approximate programme costs are listed below and may change depending on how many people need treatment or surgery.
SSLN will provide due credit and recognize supporters. Contact the hospital to confirm current programme availability and costs.
After village declaration, SSLN shares expense receipts, a narrative report and a beneficiary list with the supporter. Recognition includes:
The approximate population and costs below reflect the programme information supplied. Costs may change with the number of people identified for treatment or surgery; contact SSLN to confirm current figures.
Village up to 1,000 people
Approx. $905
Exclusive SSLN & BFO-USA partnership
Village up to 3,000 people
Approx. Rs. 200,000
Open collaboration
Panchayat up to 10,000 people
Approx. Rs. 600,000
Open collaboration
Block up to 125,000 people
Approx. Rs. 7,500,000
Open collaboration
The original programme invites collaboration with national or international NGOs, corporates, institutions and individuals. The Adopt a Village Program is described as an exclusive SSLN and BFO-USA partnership. Confirm current availability and costs directly with SSLN.
Tell SSLN which adoption programme you would like to discuss.