THEMATIC AREAS
HEALTH AND DISABILITY
Comprehensive Eye Care Services
In line with Vision 2020 which aims to prevent avoidable blindness, Jana KalyanaSamakhya (JKS) aims to ensure that no one is blind from avoidable causes and the visually impaired people participate equally in the society and develop their full potential. The main components of the project include eye care, education and rehabilitation.
Jana KalyanaSamakhya (JKS) in partnership with Sightsavers - UK started the Comprehensive Eye care Services project in June 2003. In the first phase of the program (2003 to 2006) the approach was on service delivery model and the second phase – 2006 to 2009 focused on community participation and ownership. The 3rd phase of Comprehensive Eye Care project (2010 to 2012) focuses on advocacy, inclusion, education, formation and strengthening of BPOs, DPO, Eye care Committees / People’s Organizations (POs) etc. Under the program JKS runs 3 Vision centres at different locations catering to nearly 0.6 million population. The program covers 14 mandals in Vizianagaram district with a population of approximately one million. At the same time different programs are organized in a collective manner under the banner of Vizag Network and it gives ample opportunity for the members of the network for sharing best practices, issues, cross learning and advocacy
All efforts have been made for better inclusion of disabled people to give them an opportunity for maximizing their potentials. The Community has been educated and enhanced participation of the key stakeholders in all aspect of the program. It has ensured greater community ownership, better linkages and management of the programs. At the same time, the organization has formed and strengthened DPOs and BPOs, their leadership qualities and increased involvement in their development processes. DPOs have established networking and linkages at district and regional levels to play a proactive role in eliminating avoidable blindness, disabilities and accessing to their rights and entitlement. As a part of achieving suitability and continuity of the program, the responsibility of implement ting of the program including Vision Centres has been handed over to the PWD/DPO Federation and People’s organization, in a phased manner. It is expected to bring greater ownership, participation of the target group as it involves key stakeholders at all levels of the project management cycle. Some of the key accomplishments under the program over the years are given below:-
| S. No. | Particulars | Persons Covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Number of Persons Screened | 51,083 |
| 2 | Number of persons undergone cataract surgery | 17,860 |
| 3 | Number of persons received Spectacles free of costs /subsidy | 7,350 |
| 4 | Number of children screened | 48,640 |
| 5 | Children under gone surgery for eye diseases | 24 |
| 6 | Nos. of Children received spectacles free/subsidy | 143 |
| 7 | Paediatric camps -3 | 201 |
| 8 | PWDs economically rehabilitated | 22 |
| S. No. | PWDs ORGANIZATIONS | Nos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Number of People's organization/ECC formed | 16 |
| 2 | Number of PWDs groups | 63 |
| 3 | Mandal level DPOs/ PWD groups | 6 |
| 4 | Children’s Clubs | 6 |
| S. No. | VISION CENTRES | Nos |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Number of Vision Centres (VC) | 3 |
| 2 | Population covered under the 3 Vision Centres | 5,20,000 |
| 3 | Number of persons screened at the VCs | 9,568 |
| 4 | Spectacles provided through Vision Centres | 2,219 |
Community based Rehabilitation of Persons with Disability
JKS adopts Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) strategy to work closely with persons with disabilities and their families to overcome physical and social barriers within their communities through a holistic approach to a person and their environment in the areas of health, education, livelihood, social inclusion, skill development and empowerment.
The Disability is a human rights issue - a social and developmental issue that seeks to build and promote an inclusive world in which all persons with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential. Thus the focus of the CBR program includes early identification and intervention, addressing the barriers in society that prevent/exclude people with disabilities from participating and accessing services and opportunities that prevent them from developing to their fullest potential and from exercising their basic rights. It also implies providing opportunities to empower and to develop their abilities through inclusive education, community mobilization and development for increased participation, Medical, Psychological, Social and Economic interventions.
JKS’s achievements in this regard include mass awareness and sensitization of the community in 14 mandals covering nearly 1 million populations, formation of 52 PWDs group with 700 members, mandal level federation of PWDs with 1500 members, training on Orientation & mobility, Daily Living Skills.
The support and partnership with Mobility India, Bengaluru has facilitated JKS in providing counselling, therapy, appliances like artificial limbs, structures, standing tables, wheelchairs, tri-cycles etc to the needy orthopedically disabled persons. The yeoman services provided by Mobility India personnel have brought a new lease of life for many persons with disability. Mobility India also supports for the training of JKS staff on CBR and a youth is being trained on Lower Limbs Orthotics.
