Kathmandu: Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population and national and international partners, has launched a nationwide programme to integrate eye health into child healthcare services, aiming to improve early detection and treatment of vision problems among children under five.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Dhulikhel Hospital, the International Centre for Eye Health, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
The programme was inaugurated by NNJS Chairman Prof. Dr. Chet Raj Pant, Director General of the Department of Health Services Dr. Anuj Bhattchan, and Dr. Aeesha Malik of LSHTM.
According to NNJS Executive Director Dr. Shailesh Kumar Mishra, the project will strengthen Nepal’s primary healthcare system by enabling health workers to identify, treat and refer childhood eye conditions at an early stage. It will also conduct research to assess the feasibility of integrating eye care into the country’s Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) programme.
Health officials said early detection of eye diseases is crucial in preventing visual impairment and blindness among children. The evidence generated through the programme is expected to support future national health policies and expand child eye care services across Nepal.
The project will be implemented in 15 districts across all seven provinces, where researchers and health professionals will pilot new service delivery models and strengthen existing child healthcare systems.
NNJS Secretary General Bharat Bahadur Chand said the programme aims to establish a sustainable model for delivering child eye health services through Nepal’s basic healthcare network.
With a nationwide network of 28 eye hospitals and 226 eye care centres, Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh remains the country’s leading eye care provider and continues to play a key role in preventing avoidable blindness and improving access to quality eye health
