Testimonial:
Name: Bonam Satyanarayana Murthy
Gender: Male
Age: 44 Years
Occupation: Artisan
Location: Malikipuram Village, Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Bonam Satyanarayana Murthy came to know about Eye-Screening Outreach program and received pair of eyeglasses for his near vision. Bonam was having a near vision problem whenever he read newspapers or books, he developed itchy eyes and slight redness in his eyes, but he could not afford to go for his eye check-ups due to his financial constraints. He was delighted after receiving his pair of eyeglasses as he could now see clearly.
B. Improving the quality of lives and productivity of the factory workers including improved workplace safety by conducting the Clear Vision Workplaces program in the factories in Delhi NCR, through COVID safe eye-screenings and provision of eyeglasses.
Eye-Screening Statistics: 1st January 2022 to 13th January 2022
1. Distribution of people screened: Screened a total of 875 factory workers from the factory, Wear Well India Private Limited in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, among them 72% (n = 630) were males and 28% (n = 245) were females.
2. Refractive error (poor vision) rate among the screened population: 69% (n = 600) of all the screened individuals identified with refractive error/presbyopia.
3. Referrals made for the screened population: 2% (n = 18) have been referred to the hospitals out of whom 22% (n = 4) identified with suspected cataract and 78% (n = 14) identified with other complex eye diseases had been referred for further diagnosis to tertiary care hospitals and/or community health centers.
4. Eyeglasses distribution: 100% (n = 599) of all population identified with refractive error/presbyopia received eyeglasses; Reading Glasses: 37% (n = 223) and Prescription (Rx) Glasses: 63% (n = 376).
5. First Time Wearers (FTWs): 67% (n = 398) of the people who received their eyeglasses got their first ever pair of eyeglasses through the eye-screening outreach program.
6. Post-coverage rate in the population was 100%.
7. PPE kits: 1,915 PPE kits were distributed during this program.
This data is getting utilised for a Randomised Control Trial (RCT). A RCT is a clinical trial through which we will measure the impact of eyeglasses on productivity, retention, and quality of life of garment workers in factories.
VisionSpring Foundation (VSF) Activity Report: 1st January 2022 to 31st March 2022
Mission
To provide eye-screening, primary eye-care services, and eye-health advice to the people at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid.
Current Scenario
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, more than 700 million people in the developing world struggle with poor life quality due to bad eyesight. It is estimated that uncorrected vision results in $227 billion in lost productivity to the global economy. In India alone, an estimated 550 million (55 Crore) people require eyeglasses for vision correction. Blurry vision compromises one’s ability to work effectively, to read and learn in school, and to navigate surroundings with ease and safety. For many living in developing countries suffering from vision loss, a pair of eyeglasses could mean the difference between opportunity and loss of income and quality of life.
Activities
VisionSpring Foundation (VSF) is an NGO (not-for-profit) that does eye-screening for the poor people, provides primary eye-care services, and eye-health advice with FCRA Registration Number: 231661855. VSF also has the facility of providing eyeglasses to those who need them. VSF conducts community outreach activities and free eye-screening outreach program. The mobile eye-care units (vans) go to the remote interiors and provide last mile vision-care services to the poor. VSF also provides eye-care/eye-health advice centres and refers patients with complex eye diseases (such as cataract, etc.) to the nearest eye hospital. VSF helps change the lives of the poor people in India by aiding in restoring their vision.
VisionSpring Foundation (VSF) received a grant amount of USD ($) 2,630,034 from 1st January 2020 to 31st March 2022:
Programs Undertaken between 1st January 2022 to 31st March 2022:
A. Improving the lives and productivity of weavers and artisans and their households in Narsapur, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh through COVID safe eye-screenings and provision of eyeglasses in association with Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).
Background and Scope:
VisionSpring Foundation (VSF) identified weavers and artisans, their families, and associated communities in Narsapur, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. VSF associated with the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) for this program. After making the locations COVID ready, VSF conducted eye-screenings with the COVID safe protocols. VSF had conducted eye-screenings of 20,065 weavers and artisans and their households under this program from July 2021 to March 2022. Further, eyeglasses were provided to those who required them and those with complex eye diseases were referred to the Government/other hospitals in the area for further diagnosis and treatment. 1,000 PPE kits were distributed to beneficiaries in August 2021 and 4,828 masks were distributed to the beneficiaries during the period of January-March 2022.
Eye-Screening Statistics: 31st July 2021 to 18th February 2022-EPCH Narsapur
1. Distribution of people screened: Screened a total of 20,065 weavers and artisans, their families, and associated communities in Narsapur, West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, India among them 49% (n=9,810) were males and 51% (n=10,255) were females.
2. Refractive error (poor vision) rate among the screened population: 55% (n = 10,972) of all the screened individuals identified with refractive error/presbyopia.
3. Referrals made for the screened population: 28% (n = 5,623) have been referred to the hospitals out of whom 64% (n = 3,607) identified with suspected cataract and 36% (n = 2,016) identified with other complex eye diseases had been referred for further diagnosis to tertiary care hospitals and/or community health centers.
4. Eyeglasses distribution: 90% (n = 9,881) of all population identified with refractive error/presbyopia received eyeglasses; Reading Glasses: 62% (n = 6,171) and Prescription (Rx) Glasses: 38% (n = 3,710).
5. First Time Wearers (FTWs): 82% (n = 8,085) of the people who received their eyeglasses got their first ever pair of eyeglasses through the eye-screening outreach program.
6. Post-coverage rate in the population was 90%.
Testimonial:
Name: Himanshu Kumar
Gender: Male
Age: 44 Years
Occupation: Sewing Unit-Tailor
Factory Location: Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Himanshu is working as a tailor in the factory. He visited eye-screening outreach program and received a pair of reading eyeglasses. He was facing difficulties while performing his daily tasks due to his blurry vision. He was grateful to VSF for providing him with the gift of clear vision.
F. Improving the lives and educational outcomes of children through the provision of eyeglasses
Locations: Delhi NCR and Maharashtra in India
VSF collaborated with multiple mission-aligned organisations/bodies such as National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) (Maharashtra), Rotary International District (Delhi-NCR), Community Eye Care Foundation (Maharashtra), and Kamal Welfare Trust (Maharashtra).
VSF conducted eye-screenings of children and provided 7,922 eyeglasses from 1st January 2022 to 31st March 2022. These eyeglasses helped children to see clearly and improved learning outcomes as 80% of learning is through vision. It helps children to actively participate in school and would contribute to making their future bright.
Testimonial
Name: Ms. Khushi
Gender: Female
Class : 8th
School: Sarvodya Public School
Beneficiary: Student
Location: Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Khushi had refractive error and unclear vision for many years. She was unable to focus on her studies due to unclear and strained vision. Due to the efforts of the VSF team, Khushi was not only contented on getting a new pair of glasses, she was delighted as now she could focus on her studies and score more.