The document summarizes India's National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB), which was launched in 1976 with goals of providing eye care facilities and reducing blindness prevalence. It discusses major developments, including inclusion in the Prime Minister's 20-point programme in 1982 and a World Bank-assisted cataract blindness project from 1994-2001. The NPCB adopted Vision 2020 in 2001 with goals of advocacy, reducing disease burden through initiatives like improved cataract surgery, developing human resources like mid-level ophthalmic personnel, and expanding eye care infrastructure. It is implemented through central, state, district, and community levels, with the aim of achieving maximum reduction in avoidable blindness.

1. Presented by :---- Anjali Jariyal
Roll no.19

2. Inception of present status
 India was the first country in the world to launch
the ‘ National Programme for Control of Blindness
( PCB)' in year 1976 as 100% centrally sponsored
programme with the following goals:
• To provide comprehensive eye care facilities for
primary, secondary and tertiary levels of eye
healthcare, and
• To reduce the prevalence of blindness in population
from 1.38% (ICMR 1971-174) to 0.31 by 2000 AD

3. MAJOR FLIPS IN NPCB
• Inclusion in 'Prime Minister's-20 point programme‘ in 1982, was the first
major flip for NPCB.
• Launching of 'Cataract Blindness Control Project‘ assisted by World
Bank from 1994-2001 was another major flip for NPCB. This project was
launched to reduce the cataract back-log in 7 States which were
identified to have the highest prevalence of cataract blindness by
WHO-NPCB survey (1986-89)
These in descending order, are: Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,Rajasthan and Orissa.
• Adoption of vision 2020: Right to Sight in 2001 is the most prestigious
major flip for NPCB.

4. New initiatives in 12th year of five year plan
1)Distribution of free spectacles for near work to old persons
suffering from presbyopia.
2) Development of Multipurpose District Mobile Ophthalmic
Units (MDMOU) has been introduced with an objective to
further expand eye-care coverage in remote and
undeserved areas .
3) Tele-Ophthalmology Network units with linkage
to ophthalmic consultation units in the Medical
Colleges are to be set up.

5. OBJECTIVES
• Reduction in the backlog of blindness through identification
and treatment of blinds.
• Development and strengthening of comprehensive eye-care
facilities in every district.
• Development of human resources for providing eye care
services.
• Improvement in quality of service delivery.
• Securing participation of voluntary organization and private
practitioners in eye care.
• Enhancement in community awareness on eye care.
• Setting up of mechanism for referral, coordination and
feedback between organizations dedicated to prevention,
treatment and rehabilitation.

6. PROGRAMME
ORGANISATION
and
IMPLEMENTATION

7. CENTRAL LEVEL
The organization at central level is the responsibility of
NATIONAL PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT CELL.
Activities are:-
• Procurement of goods (major equipments, bulk
consumables, vehicles, etc.)
• Nonrecurring grant-in-aid to NGOs.
• Organizing central level training courses.
• Information, education and communication (IEC)
activities (prototype development and mass media).
• Development of MIS, monitoring and evaluation.
• Procurement of services and consultancy.
• Salaries of additional staff at the central level.

8. STATE LEVEL
It is implemented through the STATE OPHTHALMIC CELL
State ophthalmic cell activities include:
• Execution of civil works for new units.
• Repairs and renovation of existing units equipments.
• State level training and IEC activities.
• Management of State Project Cell.
• Salaries for additional staff.
'State Blindness Control Society'' (SBCS) has been merged
with State Health Society after launch of National Health
Mission (NHM) for implementing the programme at the
state level.

9. DISTRICT LEVEL
 It is implemented through the DISTRICT HEALTH
SOCIETIES.
 DISTRICT BLINDNESS CONTROL SOCIETIES:-
(A) Primary purpose:-
1)Implement and monitor the blindness control
activities under the guidance of NPCB.
2) It has been implemented in 5 districts of India.

10.  OBJECTIVES:-
To achieve the maximum reduction in avoidable
blindness in the district.
 NEED:-
1)To make control blindness a part of Govt policy.
2)To simplify administrative and financial
problems.
3) To enhance participation of community.

11.  COMPOSITION OF DBCS:-
o Chairman – Deputy Commissioner
o Vice Chairman – Civil Surgeon/District Health Officer.
o Member secretary – District Programme Manager.
o Members- District eye surgeon,District education
officer,President IMA branch,President rotatory
club,NGO representatives.
o ADVISOR:---- STATE PROGRAMME MANAGER.

12. PLAN OF ACTION AND ACTIVITIES
Extension of eye care services.
Establishment of permanent infrastructure.
i.e;
(a) Primary eye care given at PHC’s and sub centres.
(b)Secondary eye care at intermediate level.
(c)Tertiary eye care at central level.
(d) Center of excellence at apex level.
Intensification of eye health education by adopting
VISION 2020: RIGHT TO SIGHT.

13. VISION 2020
 It includes :-
a)Strengthening advocacy.
b)Reduction of disease burden.
c)Human resource development.
d) Eye care infrastructure development.

14. STRENGTHNING ADVOCACY
 At National and State level by public awareness and
information about eye care, frequent press releases
and articles , broadcasting and telecasting about eye
care, introduction of eye care topics in school,
involvement of proffessional organizations.
 At District level by strengthening the function of
DBCS, enhance involvement of NGO’s, local
community, public awareness, multisectoral approach
, strong interpersonnel communication.

15. REDUCTION OF DISEASE BURDEN
A) CATARACT :-
By improving quantity and quality of cataract
surgery.
Targets:-
1)For cataract surgery rate: were 6000 per match by
the year 2020.
2)Improve outcome of surgery.
3)IOL surgery for more than 80%.
4)YAG capsulotomy at all district levels.

16.  B) CHILDHOOD BLINDNESS:
a) Detection of eye disorders by school campaigning
,periodic checkups.
b) Prevention of xerophthalmia , trachoma , refractive
errors , glaucoma.
 Refractive errors and low vision.
 Glaucoma by opportunistic glaucoma screening at eye
care institutions and eye camps, community based
referral.

17.  4) Diabetic retinopathy by generating awareness ,
examining all known diabetics , confirmation by
fundus fluorescien angiography.
 5)Corneal blindness by identification of infants at risk
, pre school children , school going children , senior
citizens, ensuring supply of essential drugs.

18. HUMAN ESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
For 'Vision 2020' initiative in India, the human
resource needs identified to combat blindness by
2020 are:-
(a)Mid-Level Ophthalmic Personnel (MLOP). The term MLOP
has been introduced to include all categories of paramedics
who work full time in eye care. Broadly two streams of such
personnels are envisaged:
l . Hospital-based MLOP. These include ophthalmic nurses,
ophthalmic technicians, optometrists etc.
2. Community-based MLOP include those with outreach/ field
functions such as primary eye care workers and ophthalmic
assistants.

19. EYE CARE INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT
1. Primary level: There is a need to develop 20,000 vision
centres, each with one Ophthalmic Assistant or equivalent
(Community based MLOP) covering a population of
50,000.
2. Service Centres. There is a need to develop 2,000 service
centres at secondary level-each with two ophthalmologists
and 8 paramedics (Hospital-based MLOP), covering a
population of 5,00,000. One eye care manager will be
required at each service centre.
3. Training Centres. There is a need 10 develop 200 'Training
Centres ' for the training of Ophthalmologists. Each
tertiary level training centre will cater to a population of 5
million.