Daijiworld Media Network - Varanasi
Varanasi, Jul 6: A high-level team from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conducted an extensive inspection of the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), BHU, and various other health centres in Varanasi under the National Blindness and Deafness Control Programme and non-communicable disease services.
The central team, led by Dr C Aparna (SMO Programme In-Charge), technical consultant Dr Rahul Pandey, and medical consultant Dr Pranay Sharma, was accompanied by a state-level delegation that included Dr Sunil Verma (NPCB Programme Officer), Dr R S Yadav, Abhay Dwivedi, Manoj Bharti, and district officials including Dr Sanjay Rai and Dr Y B Pathak.
During the inspection, significant achievements were highlighted, including the collection of 64 corneas from 32 donors in the last three years by BHU Eye Bank, led by Dr R P Maurya. These efforts have enabled 52 individuals with blindness to regain their vision through successful transplants.
To further boost eye care services, a plan is underway to establish 10 new vision centres in Varanasi, with support from the BHU ophthalmology department. The initiative aims to encourage eye donations, expand transplant services, and provide free surgeries to all cataract patients through a comprehensive identification campaign.
Officials emphasized the need for proposals from medical institutions for advanced equipment and training for support staff to enhance the quality of eye surgeries. Free distribution of glasses for the elderly and free eye checks with spectacles for school children under the National Child Health Programme were also discussed.
The team visited IMS BHU Eye and ENT departments, Shiv Prasad Gupta Divisional Hospital, CHCs at Misirpur and Cholapur, and Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Madhopur), where outpatient facilities, OT arrangements, medicine availability, spectacle distribution, and referral systems were reviewed.
Interacting with local healthcare workers, including nurses, CHOs, ANMs, and ASHA workers, the team collected feedback and offered guidance to improve patient care.
Dr R P Maurya and Dr Vishambhar Singh coordinated the departmental reviews. A detailed report based on the inspection checklist will be submitted to the administration for further action.