Community Outreach is taking health care of that part of the community which has no access to, and awareness of such services. Reaching out to the community for eye care which is the philosophy followed at Aarvind, which is also followed in Sudarshan Netralaya. We conduct the eye camps involving the local community as partners, thereby increasing the ownership of the community in the camp. Mobile camps with medical teams, goes to the rural areas to attend the patients and bestow glasses for the needy. 844 outreach camps have been arranged by Sudarshan in various fringes of Amreli and nearby districts. The team works closely with local community leaders; NGO’s and service groups to set up the camps where patients are screened. Counselling of the patients has been successfully introduced in the eye camps to help minimize the patients come to the hospital. 53747 Camp Surgeries have been performed till 2024.
Types of Eye Camps
Comprehensive Eye Camps
Comprehensive camps are organized to screen for a wide range of common eye problems, with a special focus on cataracts. Minor eye issues and refractive errors are treated on-site with medication or eyeglasses. Patients diagnosed with cataracts are transported to the hospital for free surgery, while those with specialized conditions are referred to the base hospital. Approximately 55 surgery patients are brought in one batch.
Till now 1215 camps have been conducted and usually we have about 6-7 camps a month, covering districts of Junagarh, Bhavnagar, Amreli & Rajkot.
Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Camps
Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the small blood vessels in the retina caused by complications of diabetes. With the rise in Diabetes, this is becoming a major cause of vision loss across the world. Diabetic Retinopathy screening camps specialise exclusively in the diagnosis and treatment of this irreversible disease. Usually, 1 camp a quarter is being conducted.
School Children Screening Camps
Globally, uncorrected refractive error is the main cause of vision impairment in children aged 6-15 years and the prevalence of myopia (short-sightedness) is on the rise. These camps concentrate on screening of refractive errors. Students with other eye ailments are also identified and referred to the base hospital. Usually, 2-3 camps a month are being conducted.
Workplace Eye Screening Camps
In an aging world, the magnitude of uncorrected presbyopia is high. Because this is a problem among working populations. Hospital organises refractive error screening camps for the sole purpose of screening and dispensing eyeglasses to large numbers of patients at one time. Industries and other fields of work are prime targets for this type of outreach camp. Usually, 1 camp a quarter is being conducted.
