NPCB continues in State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 03 2016: Experts define Blindness as the state of being totally sightless in both eyes.

A completely blind individual is unable to see at all.

80 percent of Blindness occurs in people over 50 years old.

Main causes of Blindness are Cataract (62.6%), Refractive Error (19.70%), Corneal Blindness (0.90%), Glaucoma (5.80%), Surgical Complication (1.20%), Posterior Capsular Opacification (0.90%), Posterior Segment Disorder (4.70%), Others (4.19%), Estimated National Prevalence of Childhood Blindness/ Low Vision is 0.08 per thousand.

The totally 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme, National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) was launched in 1976.The objective of NCPB is mainly to reduce the backlog of blindness through identification and treatment of blind at primary, secondary and tertiary levels based on assessment of the overall burden of visual impairment/blindness in the country.

NPCB is being implemented in the State with one Central Mobile Ophthalmic Unit and three District Mobile Ophthalmic Units.

There are 4 (four) District Blindness Control Societies in Manipur (Imphal, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Churachandpur).

The Societies are under the supervision of State Ophthalmic Cell.

Cataract operation facilities are available at District Hospital, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Churachandpur and Central Mobile Ophthalmic Unit, Imphal, JNIMS at Porompat and RIMS at Lamphelpat with modern equipment.

The Performance report of NPCB in Manipur during the year 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 are given below: Various activities and initiatives undertaken during the XII Five Year Plans under NPCB are targeted towards achieving the goal of reducing the prevalence of blindness to 0.3% by the year 2020.Goals and objectives of NPCB includes strengthening the existing and developing additional human resources and infrastructure facilities for providing high quality comprehensive eye care, to enhance community awareness on eye care and lay stress on preventive measures, increase and expand research for prevention of blindness and visual impairment etc..

It is worth to mention that the Health Care Delivery System in the State is organized at three level supported by a referral centre.

The levels are� Primary Care Level comprising of Primary Health Sub-Centres (PHSCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs).

Essential basic Health Care is provided at this level.

Secondary Care Level comprising of Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals as referral Centres when comparatively complex curative services are provided with basic specialists facilities.

Tertiary Care Level where specialists and super specialist case are provided.

It includes the State level Hospital.

The State Health Department is now focusing for optimal functioning of the already established functionaries by providing the necessary infrastructures.

Comment