On 30/10/23, we had our first of the 25 planned eye camps under the ‘Blindness Prevention and Vision Care Programme in Northern Bangladesh’.
It has been a challenging yet humbling experience for our team on the ground. As per our funding availability, we planned to screen about 100 - 120 patients per camp, distribute 20 pairs of spectacles, and select 10 -12 patients for free cataract surgery per camp. The team ended up screening 216 patients and had to work till evening to do that. There were about 70 patients with cataracts expecting to be selected for free surgery. The team had to take 16 patients for surgery and handed over 25 pairs of glasses. The rest of the patients were disappointed and there was discontent. All went well in the end. My heart goes out to the patients who missed out on free operation. At least they have a diagnosis now.
Attending patients were also screened for Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy. Prescriptions and management advice were provided to all those who needed it.
16 selected patients attended camp - 1 underwent free of cost Cataract surgery on 31/10/23.
Our sincere thanks to Dr Ehsan Echo and the team from Majeda Eye Hospital for their superhuman effort for Camp – 1.

Free Cataract Surgery and Vision Care:

In the first phase of our blindness prevention and vision care program in North Bengal, 16 underprivileged patients of Kazihal Union of Fulbari Upazila of Dinajpur district underwent free cataract surgery on 31st October. In this program, 3000 patients in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, and Pabna districts will be diagnosed with eye diseases, prescriptions will be issued and glasses will be distributed, apart from cataract surgery for 300 patients.
We have provided this service free of cost to the underprivileged people of North Bengal.
A medical team of Majeda Eye Hospital, Dinajpur led by Ophthalmologist Dr. Abul Ehsan Eko is providing this medical service on behalf of Social Help Endeavor for Bangladesh (SHEBA, Australia) and Alternative Approach (Bangladesh).
Come forward in blindness prevention and vision care. By ourselves, or by strengthening our hands.

Advice and training on surgical and post-operative eye care in pictures.