Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 06 June 2024
A team of ophthalmic surgeons led by Dr. Anjali Koteshwar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at ANIIMS/GBPH, has accomplished a remarkable feat by performing surgeries on nearly 50 patients from Car Nicobar. These patients, originating from 11 different villages, were suffering from various debilitating eye conditions, primarily cataracts, which had severely impacted their daily lives.
Despite the complexity of many cases, compounded by long-standing illnesses and associated medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, the most challenging surgery involved a 14-year-old child. This child had been blind in one eye since birth due to a cataract. The surgery was preceded by a series of pre-operative tele-consultations with experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Guru Nanak Eye Centre (GNEC), and Lok Nayak Hospital (LNH) in Delhi. Ultimately, the surgery was successfully performed at GBPH by the skilled team at ANIIMS, in coordination with GNEC, after an intensive medical treatment regime.
All the patients have since recovered fully and have returned to their native villages. The entire cost of the surgeries was covered by the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) under the National Health Mission. The logistical challenges, including travel arrangements, accommodation, and meals for both patients and their attendants, were comprehensively managed by the A&N Administration.
The primary goal of this initiative was to treat preventable blindness and improve the quality of life for the tribal population in a safe and comfortable setting. Additionally, this effort aimed to build confidence among the patients in the healthcare services available at GBPH under ANIIMS. The successful outcomes of this camp are expected to create a social movement, with patients becoming ‘Community Champions’ who inspire and motivate others to seek timely medical care for cataracts and other health issues.
The Ophthalmology Department at ANIIMS is equipped with all the necessary facilities and is continually upgrading to meet new challenges. More such collaborative efforts are planned as part of a long-term strategy to make healthcare services more accessible to tribal patients. The success of this initiative highlights the commitment, value of collaboration, and community engagement necessary to achieve healthcare goals in the Islands.