ANDDISTRICT BLINDNESS

CONTROL SOCIETY

- SUKRUTH.S

NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR CONTROL OF BLINDNESS

(NPCB) IN INDIA

Introduction

NPCB was launched in the year 1976 as a 100% Centrally Sponsored scheme with the goal to reduce the prevalence of blindness to 0.3% by 2020.

Rapid Survey on Avoidable Blindness conducted under NPCB during 2006-07 showed reduction in the prevalence rate of blindness from 1.1% (2001-02) to 1% (2006-07).

MAJOR FLIPS IN NPCB

Inclusion in Prime minister’s 20 point programme in 1982

Launching of CATARACT BLINDNESS CONTROL PROJECT assisted by World Bank from 1994 -2001

Adoption of Vision 2020 : Right to Sight in 2001

OBJECTIVES

To reduce the backlog of blindness through identification and treatment of the blind;

To develop Comprehensive Eye Care facilities in every district;

To develop human resources for providing Eye Care Services;

To improve quality of service delivery; To secure participation of Voluntary

Organizations/Private Practitioners in eye Care. To enhance community awareness on eye care.

Four pronged strategy of the programme

Strengthening service delivery, Developing human resources for eye care,Promoting outreach activities and public

awareness andDeveloping institutional capacity

Revised strategies To make NPCB more

comprehensive-corneal blindness, refractive error, post op cataract, glaucoma.

To shift eye camp approach to a fixed facility surgical approach.

To expand world bank project activities like construction of dedicated eye operation theatres

To strengthen participation of voluntary orgnization in programme.

To enhance eye care services in tribal and other under served areas.

Organizational structure