Vellore, Tamil Nadu, September 16, 2024: CBM India, a non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities, has partnered with the Schiefflin Institute of Health Research & Leprosy Centre to launch a three-year disability-inclusive eye health project in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. This initiative aims to provide high-quality eye care services to people from marginalized communities, with a special focus on children and adults with disabilities. The project’s inauguration held at the Schiefflin Institute of Health Research & Leprosy Centre in Karigiri, was attended by prominent dignitaries including Mr. Sony Thomas (Executive Director, CBM India Trust), Mr. Ravi Ranganathan (Director-Programs, CBM India Trust), Dr. Jerry Joshua (Director, Schiefflin Institute of Health Research & Leprosy Centre), and Dr. Shirley Chacko (Dy. Director, Schiefflin Institute of Health Research & Leprosy Centre, and Director, Department of Ophthalmology, Schiefflin Institute of Health Research & Leprosy Centre).

The disability-inclusive eye health project aims to prevent avoidable visual impairments, including blindness, in marginalized communities. By offering primary eye examinations, building the capacity of key stakeholders, and developing strong referral networks among hospitals, vision centers, and schools, the project seeks to ensure timely access to essential eye care services for all, particularly those who often face barriers to accessing quality eye care. By using a child-to-child and patient-to-patient approach as a key strategy, the project aspires to create a ripple effect where people who have benefited from the program amplify awareness about the importance of eye care and the services available within their communities.

Mr. Sony Thomas, Executive Director, CBM India Trust, stated, “We are proud to collaborate on this transformative project, which aligns with CBM India’s mission to ensure quality eye care for all. By emphasizing accessibility and disability inclusion, we are addressing the needs of society’s most marginalized communities. Working together with neighborhood health facilities, schools, and rehabilitation facilities, we hope to bring about long-lasting change and reduce avoidable visual impairments in the Vellore district.”

Beyond providing eye care, the initiative seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to comprehensive support services and opportunities for empowerment. This will be achieved by collaborating with the health, education, and rehabilitation sectors. The project will be implemented over three years starting in September 2024 and concluding in July 2027.