India Vision Institute and Sightsavers India are partnering on two important vision screening programs in Chennai.
At an event in Neelankarai on 6 October, Thursday, the two announced and launched programs for the benefit of fisherfolk and stone sculptors.
Spectacles were distributed to 15 fishermen by cricket legend Krishnamachari Srikkanth, IVI’s CEO Vinod Daniel, VE Mathiyalagan, Chairman (Zone 15), Greater Chennai Corporation, Vishvanathan, Chairman, Chennai Corporation Schools, and V Ettiyappan, former Neelankarai Panchayat President. Some 70 people have been screened in the last few days. Srikkanth appreciated IVI’s work in providing access to vision screening to underprivileged communities.
Mr Daniel said, “IVI has a long and fruitful association with Sightsavers. The two programs will provide primary eye care access to 1,400 fishermen and 700 sculptors in the next four months.”
“In addition to spectacles, the sculptors will also receive protective glasses,” he noted.
“IVI has worked across India to screen hundreds and thousands of adults and children. Beneficiaries have included women, children, workers, weavers and stone cutters, and transgender communities,” Mr Daniel added.
Sightsavers India CEO R N Mohanty said, “We are very proud of our partnership with IVI and I am sure, together, we will strengthen Sightsavers’ urban eye health initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness.”
About Sightsavers India
Sightsavers is a development organisation working to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote equality of opportunity for people with disability. Sightsavers’ work in India with its local partners to strengthen organisations and communities. Sightsavers India supported the treatment of millions of people with eye disorders in the least served areas of India and has empowered people with visual impairment or blindness to lead an independent and dignified life.
About India Vision Institute
IVI is an Indian not-for-profit NGO with the vision to provide access to primary eye care for the underprivileged and a pair of corrective glasses to every Indian in need of one. Our outreach and advocacy activities also include awareness generation, engaging communities, schools, partner institutions and others through talks, education, skill enhancement, and leadership development. Since 2012, IVI has helped change lives in 22 states of India. Through providing better vision and a pair of free corrective glasses, our Eye See and I Learn and Eye See and I Work programs help, respectively, school children do well in studies and adults in being more productive, ensuring their safe and secure livelihood. Vision and Road Safety is another priority for IVI and involves working with corporates/organizations on screenings and provision of free spectacles for commercial vehicle drivers. Beneficiaries have included women, children, transgender communities, workers, fisherfolk and weavers.
