National Programme for Control of Blindness

Goals & Objectives of NPCB in the XII Plan Manpower of N.P.C.B., State Health Society: ASSAM Contractual Staff Other Staff Including Districts Activities under N.P.C.B. ( as per NPCB Guideline)

CATARACT SURGERY PERFORMANCE: (UPTO FROM FY 2011-12 to FY 2014-15) School Eye Screening Performance From 2010-11 to 2014-15 Eye Banking Performance During 2011-12 to 2014-15 (up to July/14) Physical Performance Financial Performance : From FY 2013-14 to 2015-16

National Programme for Control of Blindness was launched in the year 1976 as a 100% Centrally Sponsored scheme with the goal to reduce the prevalence of blindness from 1.4% to 0.3%. As per Survey in 2001-02, prevalence of blindness is estimated to be 1.1%. Rapid Survey on Avoidable Blindness conducted under NPCB during 2006-07 showed reduction in the prevalence of blindness from 1.1% (2001-02) to 1% (2006-07). Various activities/initiatives undertaken during the Five Year Plans under NPCB are targeted towards achieving the goal of reducing the prevalence of blindness to 0.3% by the year 2020.

Main causes of blindness are as follows: Cataract (62.6%) Refractive Error (19.70%) Corneal Blindness (0.90%), Glaucoma (5.80%), Surgical Complication (1.20%) Posterior Capsular Pacifications (0.90%) Posterior Segment Disorder (4.70%), Others (4.19%) Estimated National Prevalence of Childhood Blindness /Low Vision is 0.80 per thousand.

Goals & Objectives of NPCB in the XII Plan

To reduce the backlog of blindness through identification and treatment of blind at primary, secondary and tertiary levels based on assessment of the overall burden of visual impairment in the country.
Develop and strengthen the strategy of NPCB for "Eye Health" and prevention of visual impairment; through provision of comprehensive eye care services and quality service delivery.
Strengthening and up gradation of RIOs to become centre of excellence in various sub-specialities of ophthalmology
Strengthening the existing and developing additional human resources and infrastructure facilities for providing high quality comprehensive Eye Care in all Districts of the country
To enhance community awareness on eye care and lay stress on preventive measures
Increase and expand research for prevention of blindness and visual impairment
To secure participation of Voluntary Organizations/Private Practitioners in eye Care

Manpower of N.P.C.B., State Health Society: ASSAM

Jt. Director, Health Services/State Programme Officer	1
U.D.A	1
L.D.A. cum Typist	1
Statistical Assistant	1
Gr. IV	1

Contractual Staff

Budget & Accounts Officer	1
Data Entry Operator	1
Administrative Assistant	1

Other Staff Including Districts

Ophthalmic Surgeon	120 (approx)
Ophthalmic Surgeon, Contructual	3 nos.
Ophthalmic Assistant ( 12 nos. are contractual)	210 (approx)
D.P.M Designated (M & HO)	21 nos.
D.P.M., Contractual	6 nos.
Data Entry Operator , Contractual	27 nos.

Activities under N.P.C.B. ( as per NPCB Guideline)

Creating an infrastructure for cataract surgical & support services.
School Eye Screening and refraction Services.
Strengthening Eye Health Education activities by intensive IEC Activities.
Control of Corneal Blindness including establishment of Eye Banks.

1. Cataract Surgery & Support Services

Creation of Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) at Guwahati to provide speciality services and referral support to other institutions.

Strengthening and upgrading eye departments of medical colleges like A.M.C.H., Dibrugarh, S.M.C.H. ,Silchar and Ayurvedic College, Guwahati, Barpeta Medical College, Barpeta, Jorhat Medical College & Hospital, Jorhat. Dedicated eye OTs, eye wards and ophthalmic equipments are being provided to all medical colleges and 27 district hospitals.
We have approx. 120 nos. of eye surgeons. Eye Surgeons from the district are being trained in latest surgical methods at SSN, Guwahati, Rotary Eye Hospital, Cuttack ,Arvind Eye Hospital, Madurai etc. Almost 100 nos of eye surgeons have been trained in IOL/SICS. &approx 20 nos. of Eye Surgeons have been trained in Phaco-Emulsification.
441 nos. of Medical Officers including In-charge of PHC, Block PHC, and Superintendent of CH have been trained during 2008-09, 2009-2010 & 2010-11 as refresher training.
Creation of District Mobile Units to provide cataract surgical services in the rural and remote areas. There are 6 (six) Nos. of District Mobile Unit.

1. AMCH Dibrugarh
2. RIO
Guwahati
3. Sonitpur
4. Nagaon
5. Goalpara
6. Barpeta

NGOs participating in eye care services are being supported by providing GIA.

CATARACT SURGERY PERFORMANCE: (UPTO FROM FY 2011-12 to FY 2014-15)

Year	Target	Achievement
Year	Target	Government	PVT.	NGO	Total
2011-12	83300	27685	11570	24300	63555
2012-13	85000	28330	13799	29666	71795
2013-14	85000	29750	19613	23136	72499
2014-15	85000	27659	13395	32027	73081

2. School Eye Screening and Refraction Services

This programmes are presently undertaken by our 27 nos. of NPCB, District health

Society, under three types of refractive correction:

Myopic correction for school children
Presbyopic correction to above 40 yrs of age.
Some cataract operated patients also need refractive correction.For carrying out these activities, we are initiating the following as per NPCB guidelines :- Training of PMOAs for manning the refraction services at CHCs/ upgraded PHCs. PMOAs undertake refraction work and help in the organization of eye camps in the PHC area. There are 210 nos.(approx) of PMOAs ( out of 210 nos., 12 nos. are in contractual basis ) and all are have already been trained as refresher course during 2008-09 & 2010-11. And 46 nos. of PMOAs & OT Nurses have been trained on OT Procedures. Total 55000 nos. of Middle School Teachers have already been trained from 45000 (approx) middle school. Preference is given to the female teachers with science background. One teacher from each school.
Creation of Dark Room & Vision Centres at upgraded PHCs & CHCs
We have already established 130 (approx.) nos. of Vision Centres in different district and all are functioning smoothly. Fund for 64 nos. of Vision Centres has already been released during the end of FY 2012-13.

Provision of spectacles to the refractive error detected school children on free of cost to the BPL family from the fund provided to the N.P.C.B., District Health Society.

School Eye Screening Performance From 2010-11 to 2014-15

	Year 2010-11		Year 2011-12		Year 2012-13		Year 2013-14		Year 2014-15
	Target	Achievement	Target	Achievement	Target	Achievement	Target	Achievement	Target	Achievement
School Children Screened	300000	268570	300000	762413	500000	717516	1500000	1917897	-	1849857
R.E. Detected	-	14375	-	49831	-	80831	105000	119857	-	135142
Free Glass Provided	3500	4034	3500	23074	-	43791	31500	38046	42000	43465
School Teacher Trained	-	2944	-	4059	-	3940	-	4717	-	4699

3. Strengthening Eye Health education activities by Intensive IECACTIVITIES:

Cataract Surgery, Eye Donation& School Eye Screening programme are all dependent on information, education & communication activities.

National Eye Donation Fortnight from 25th August/ to 8th Sept.
World Sight Day - on every 2nd Thursday of October every year.

The Common Activities under IEC are :- display of hoardings, postering, bannering, wall-writing, new paper advertising , TV & Radio talk, printing materials, awareness meeting & programme, procession, Street Drama , Beautiful Eye Contest, organizing SishuJyotiMela, workshop on eye donation etc.

4. Control of Corneal blindness including Establishment of Eye Banks

Conditions like Vit - "A" deficiency, Trachoma, Measles, Corneal ulceration etc. can lead to opacification of the cornea. Corneal grafting is the only way to restore sight. We have to develop infrastructure to collect donor's eyes.

For this purpose the NPCB ,State Health Society Assam, supports the establishment of following of Eye Banks & Eye Donation Centres at:

Eye Banks:

Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Guwahati (Government Sector)
Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh (Government Sector)
Silchar Medical College, Silchar. (Government Sector)
Sri SankardevNethralaya, Guwahati.(NGO Sector)
Jeuti Eye Bank, Jorhat(NGO Sector)

Eye Donation Centres:

Netrajyoti Eye Donation Centre.(NGO Sector)
Lions Eye Hospital, Guwahati.(NGO Sector)
Nalbari Eye Hospital Eye Donation Centre.(NGO Sector)
Rangia FRU(Government Sector)

Eye Banking Performance During 2011-12 to 2014-15 (up to July/14)

Year		Total
2011-12	Collection	329
2011-12	Transplantation	192
2012-13	Collection	315
2012-13	Transplantation	204
2013-14	Collection	545
2013-14	Transplantation	264
2014-15	Collection	423
2014-15	Transplantation	206

Physical Performance

Year	Particulars	Target	Achievement
2014 – 15	Cataract Surgery;	85000	73081
	Free Spectacles Distribution;	42000	43465
	Old Person Spectacles (Near Vision)	60000	60000
	Eye Banking (Cornea Collection)	420	423
	Eye Banking (Cornea Transplantation)	Not given by GOI	206
2015 – 16 (Upto Sept/2015)	Cataract Surgery	85000	31308
	Free Spectacles Distribution	42000	10041
	Old Person Spectacles (Near Vision)	60000	36000
	Eye Banking (Cornea Collection)	420	137
	Eye Banking (Cornea Transplantation)	Not given by GOI	59

Financial Performance : From FY 2013-14 to 2015-16

Sl. No.	Year	Opening Balance	Grant in Aid	Bank Interest	Total Received	Expenditure	Balance	% of Utilization
1.	2013 – 14	Rs.42,87,023.88	Rs.8,63,44,000.00	Rs.6,46,313.00	Rs.9,12,77,336.88	Rs.7,96,96,196.00	Rs.1,15,81,140.88	87.312%
2.	2014 – 15	Rs.1,15,81,140.88	Rs.12,37,69,000.00	Rs.9,88,513.00	Rs.13,63,38,653.88	Rs.11,97,63,827.00	Rs.1,65,74,826.88	87.842%
3.	2015 – 16	Rs.1,65,74,826.88	Rs.65,80,000.00 (Fund released by the GOI on FY 2014 – 15 but received by the NPCB FY 2015 - 16);	Rs.5,66,896.00	Rs.2,37,21,722.88	Rs.1,93,46,918.00	Rs.43,74,804.88	81.557%

Government Of Assam Health & Family Welfare