Working towards eradicating blindness, under the leadership of Dr. Mehul Shah and Dr. Shreya Shah; in Dahod
Drashti Netralaya is now a charitable organization founded by two eye care professionals with the intention to make the economically backward rural tribal area “Avoidable and Treatable blindness free” named Dahod at Eastern Border of Gujarat India since last 20 years. There are having backlog of 3,92,000 eye surgeries in three districts they are working with.
Drashti Netralaya is working in accordance with Government and they are working with district governance sharing common goals and strategies to eliminate avoidable blindness. Gujarat State government and National Government contribute financially, technically and in terms of human resources.
Many individuals, national NGOs and International NGOs, as donors are supporting this organization.
Our Collaboration in Action
Ophthalmologists couple Dr. Mehul Shah, an M.S. in ophthalmology, specialized in the field of Retina and Vitreous from Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, and Dr. Shreya Shah, Pediatric ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic surgeon, both pursuing the intention of service to poor and dedication, and being an inhabitant of Dahod, falling in the second largest tribal belt of India, felt the need to initiate similar work like Sankara Nethralaya in their hometown and its neighboring villages 30 years ago (Since May-1991)
Joy of Helping during Covid19 crisis is committed to help financially to Drashti Netralaya to send donation from USA
Drashti Netralaya has an outstanding track record of delivering high quality eye care on a mass scale and prudently managing its finances in a transparent manner. However, in these uncertain times, Drashti Netralaya needs special one-off financial support to finance its operations, so that it is able to come through the Covid19 induced crisis as a going concern and continue to resolve blindness for the poor.
After covid-19 crisis is over then Joy of Helping would like to donate and sponsor free eye camps and selected pediatrics patients operation will be done free of charge at the hospital to eliminate childhood blindness as well as Squint eye operation.
Both of them started a clinic “Drashti Netralaya”, with the help of a meager amount from parents and bank loan for purchase of basic instruments before 29 years (March-1992). Work started as private practitioners, keeping the actual goal in mind. Saturday’s were devoted as free days with the literal meaning “free from cost”. People slowly started recognizing the work. Eventually Saturday’s came to be recognized as “Ophthalmic Mission Activity ”. The requirement of free services increased day by day and need was felt to extend it to Fridays too by the end of a year. Work proceeded for 6 years (up to May-1998) in this similar routine and a basic infrastructural unit was developed which could handle 5 to 6 cataract surgeries per day with intraocular lens implantation by phacoemulsification machine.
Over the years people recognized this work and started donating to this noble cause and thus emerged a need to register these activities. 3 June 1999 marked a new beginning into this venture for the actual goal as OPHTHALMIC MISSION TRUST received its registration certificate from Gujarat Government. They worked as private practitioners from Mondays to Thursdays and for Ophthalmic Mission Trust on Fridays and Saturdays for 2 years. Surprisingly, at the end of these 2 years work profile stated that 60% of work was for Ophthalmic Mission Trust (Charitable Work) out of 33% of weekdays! (Fridays and Saturdays)
So looking at the need for their free services a major decision of conversion of a private hospital to a non-profitable charitable organization took place on 1 April-2001. They donated their private income and flourishing practice to trust and since then they became paid servants of Ophthalmic Mission Trust.
Drashti Netralaya is now a charitable organization founded by two eye care professionals with the intention to make the economically backward rural tribal area “Avoidable and Treatable blindness free” named Dahod at eastern border of Gujarat India since the last 20 years.
Tertiary Eye Care Center
As far as quality is concern their motto is single standard of care to all whether the person is rich or poor and hospital is Tertiary eye care center which deals with preventive and curative aspects all eye problems through various departments like Cataract dept, Retina and vitreous dept, pediatric ophthalmology dept, strabismus dept, ocular trauma care center, oculoplasty dept, cornea dept, ocular oncology dept, optometry services, contact lens dept etc. They are having rehabilitation center for blinds and patients with low vision.
Rural Eye Health Care
People, with whom they are working, are illiterate. They were totally unaware about the eye care modalities when they started their service and now they are quite aware about eye care problems and treatment. These awareness they could achieve because of their intense outreach activities like Free Eye check up camps and interior most village, fully equipped mobile ophthalmic units, School children eye screening programs for preventable blindness and door to door call of the patient to reach out the unreached.
Education
To cater more and more patients and to expand their catchments they have many education courses like DNB Ophthalmology after MBBS, DO after MBBS., Post M S fellowships, NPCB training center for Govt doctors, Optometry schools and Ophthalmic Technician and Nursing schools.
Technical advancement
They have established complete eye care set up with advanced technology including paperless hospital with EMR and HMIS despite of being in rural remote area. Telemedicine center also is available to get highest quality and most advanced treatment to people of this area.
Research
To avoid the blindness they are doing research including clinical and operational researches which are presented at national and international level through presentations and publications.
