A report on Phase 2( Sept 2005)
(For pictures and a report of Phase 1 which concluded in August 2005 please click here)
We are glad to report that the final phase of the special series of camps that started with CDC Salur in July 2005, is now
completed
On Sep 11 we had the final batch of 15 school children brought to our center from Parvatipuram.
This batch and the operation had some distinguishing features :
- This batch is picked mostly from tribal areas of Vizianagaram District surrounding Parvatipuram.10 out of the 15
patients were students of Tribal Welfare Schools at the tiny villages of Tikkabai,Pengava,Vadaputti,Nellikekkuva,
Ubbangi,Lankajodu and Dasaripeta of Gummalakshmipuram mandal near Kurupam
- We observed an interesting fact about the gender ratio . On the two previous occasions, mostly boys turned up
and we were investigating if this is because girls have less Vision impairment problem or if there is some other
factor inhibiting girls from coming for assistance. The truth came out that parents of some girls did not agree to
send girls to the prior 2 camp since they were overnight two day camps at Vizag. There was reluctance to allow
the girls for overnight stay in a dormitory (even though the CDC had offered to make full arrangements for this) .
- To solve this problem ,this time, we worked out a one day camp . We arranged with a philanthropist
Ophthalmologist Dr.Y.Vivek ,Gayatri Hospital at Parvatipuram that the primary screening and fundus exam (this
usually needs time consuming pupil dilation and regression) be completed at Parvatipuram itself on the day
before the camp at our center.
- The organizers were asked to bring to us only the children's confirmed as having permanent and incurable vision
impairments for a one- day camp ( morning to evening)
- As a result of this, this time, 7 out of 15 students who came were girls . This is a fair gender ratio commensurate
with student population ratio In view of this , for such projects in the future we want to follow this system for any
outstation batches -a one-day day camp, and as far as possible,bringing only confirmed Low Vision cases to
Vision-Aid.
- All Fifteen patients were evaluated and given counseling and prescriptions .
- Fifteen sets of special notebooks were given by us free of cost.
- Six pieces of stand magnifiers were also given free ( each normally costing Rs 150 ) . These were obtained by us
from Government of India's National Institute For Visually Handicapped- who have now approved us as the first
(and so far only) disbursing unit in the state of Andhra Pradesh for such devices.
- Five spectacles,and two special spectacle magnifiers were given at 50% subsidized price ( On the average a pair
of spectacles cost $ 3 and the school or parent pays only $1.50 )
- Five patients were identified for telescopes .We promised delivery from stock expected in October 2005 . These
are telescopes of very good quality but low price $5 to $ 10 , already sourced by us from Hong-kong Society for
the Blind. For these devices also we struck a deal that the school or local NGO bears 50% cost
- Again, the event attracted media attention. "Cable Vision" the local cable TV station ran a news cum feature on
their prime news at 7.30 pm on 11th Sep and once again at 7.30 Am on 12th Sep. An audio/video recording of
this has been made and is mailed to you as a CD
In summary, the unique features of this Parbvatipuram-II camp are that
- - Girls benefited equally
- - We concentrated on LV cases
- - 75% beneficiaries are tribals
- -75% beneficiaries are going to use even spects for the first time and able to see blackboard and notebook for
the first time
- - 2 cases are school-dropouts who can go back to school now
- - 2 cases needed glasses to be prescribed with very high powers( Minus 24.00 cylindrical ). Such glasses are not
purchasable in any ordinary shop. But since Vision-Aid's lessee workshop stocks such blanks , we were able to
deliver.
The schools and parents were extremely grateful to Vision-Aid for this service.
Vision-Aid thanks all our supporters for making these kinds of valuable projects possible
(Click here for pictures and a report on Phase 1 which was completed in August)
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