India launched the National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB) in 1976 with a goal to reduce blindness from 1.4% to 0.3% by 2020. The program includes comprehensive eye care, community outreach, and partnerships to emphasize prevention and expand human resources. Recent initiatives focus on free presbyopia spectacles, mobile ophthalmic units, and raising awareness about eye donation.

1. Community EyeCare
Programmes
Presented by:
Harsh Rastogi,
PhD Student,
AEC, PGIMER, Chandigarh

2. Programmes
India was the first nation to start the National Program for Control
of Blindness in 1976 with the goal of reducing blindness to 0.3% by
2020.
1976
NPCB launched as 100% centrally
sponsored program
1994–1995
Program decentralized with formation
of District Blindness Control Society
(DBCS) in each district.

3.  The 100% centrally funded NPCBVI launched in 1976 to reduce
blindness from 1.4% to 0.3%
 Prevalence of blindness was 1.1% in 2001-02.
 The 2006-07 NPCBVI Rapid Survey on Avoidable Blindness
reported reduction in blindness from 1.1% to 1% in 2002.
 The NPCBVI Five-Year Plans aim to reduce blindness to 0.3%
by 2020.
Introduction

4. Goals &
Objectives of
NPCBVI in the
XII Plan
Based on the national visual impairment burden,
identify and treat the blind at primary, secondary,
and tertiary levels to reduce the blindness backlog.
Comprehensive eye care and quality service will
strengthen NPCBVI's "Eye Health" plan and prevent
visual impairment.
Developing Regional Institutes of Ophthalmology
(RIOs) into specialized centers.

5. Goals &
Objectives of
NPCBVI in the
XII Plan (Cont.)
Strengthening and expanding human resources and
infrastructure for high-quality comprehensive eye care in
all districts.
To raise awareness of eye care and emphasize prevention.
Expand blindness and visual impairment prevention
research.
To involve voluntary organizations/private practitioners in
eye care.

6. Strategies Emphasis on free cataract surgeries,
diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma,
corneal transplants, vitreous retinal
surgery, and childhood blindness.
Active screening of population above
50 years of age.
Screening schoolchildren for
refractory errors and treatment.

8. Public-private eye care
for underserved
communities.
Health staff training.
Community IEC
activities.
Strengthening
Regional Institutes of
Ophthalmology (RIOs)
Strategies
(cont.)

9. Strategies (cont.)
Emphasis on primary eye
care.
Multipurpose District Mobile
Ophthalmic Units for better
coverage.
Participation of community
and Panchayati Raj
Institutions in organizing
services in rural areas.
Involvement of Public-
Private Partnership.

10. Organizational
Structure
(Administrational)
Central Level
• Ophthalmic Section, DGHS, MOHFW
State Level
• StateOphthalmic Cell, Directorate of
Health Services, State Health Societies
District Level
• District Blindness Control Societies

11. Organizational
Structure
(Service
delivery &
referral
system)
Primary
level
• Sub-district level
hospitals/CHC,
Mobile ophthalmic
units, Upgraded
PHCs, Link
workers/Panchayats
Secondary
level
• District hospital
& NGO Eye
hospital
Tertiary
level
• Apex, Regional
Institutes,
Medical
Colleges

12. District
Blindness
Control
Society
 Goal: “To minimize avoidable blindness using optimal
resources”.
 The Program includes:
 Comprehensive Eye Care
 School Eye Screening
 Community based Rehabilitation

13. Activities of
NPCB
CATARACT
OPERATIONS
INVOLVEMENT
OF NGOS
CIVILWORKS
COMMODITY
ASSISTANT
IEC ACTIVITIES

14. Activities of
NPCB (cont.)
Management
Information System
Monitoring and
Evaluation
School Eye
Screening Program
Collection and
utilization of
donated eyes
Control ofVitaminA
deficiency

15. Information
Education &
Communication
(IEC)
Telecast /
Broadcast
Print
materials
Postal and
Railways
Display
messages/
Panels
Video
Messages
Through
NGOs and
Stake Holders
Schools
Influential
people
SMS (new)

17. School Eye
Screening
Programme

18. Collection and
utilization
of Donated
eye

19. New initiatives
of the program
 Free Presbyopia spectacles.
 EyeTesting Fortnight in June provides schoolchildren with glasses.
 Provision of Multipurpose District Mobile Ophthalmic units
(MDMOUs) in all districts nationwide.
 To encourage eye donation and improve eye banks in the future.
 Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programmes must include mandatory
eye donation requests in death certificates.

20. NPCB
WHO
DANIDA
TheWorld
Bank Externally
aided projects

21. Vision 2020:The Right toSight
Global initiative to reduce avoidable (preventable & curable) blindness by
the year 2020.
Target Diseases:
1. Cataract
2. Refractive errors
3. Childhood blindness
4. Corneal blindness (trachoma, onchocerciasis)
5. Glaucoma
6. Diabetic retinopathy.

22. Thank
you!