International blindness prevention non-profit Orbis and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have teamed up to launch a groundbreaking manual aimed at improving human and material resources in India’s pediatric eye care sector. The manual, entitled “Mapping of Human Resource and Infrastructure for Pediatric Eye Care Services in India,” provides crucial information on the availability of pediatric eye care services and infrastructure in the country, including the number of ophthalmologists and eye care institutes in each district.
The manual was created in response to growing concern about the availability of manpower and infrastructure in India’s eye healthcare industry. The results of a 2020 national survey on HR and infrastructure mapping for eye health in India, which was included in the India Vision Atlas, informed the development of the manual, while the All-India Ophthalmological Society provided a database of ophthalmologists to aid in its creation.
“The manual is an effort towards providing evidence-based information to strengthen the training needs for pediatric eye care services in the country,” said Dr. Praveen Vashist, Professor and Officer In-charge of Community Ophthalmology at Dr. R.P. Centre. “Mitigating childhood blindness requires assessing and bridging the gap in service delivery through mapping of resources and infrastructure followed by informed decision making,” added Dr. Jeevan Singh Titiyal, Chief of Dr. R.P. Centre.
Orbis and Dr. R.P. Centre have a long history of working together for the betterment of pediatric eye care in India, including their involvement in a 2006 national survey on HR & Infrastructure for Control of Childhood and Corneal Blindness, the establishment of a Children’s Eye Centre at Dr. R.P. Centre, and participation in strategic planning for Orbis partners under the Eye Care Management project.
“We’re excited about the progress being made in partnership with Dr. R.P. Centre and the valuable insights captured in this manual,” said Derek Hodkey, President and CEO of Orbis. “This publication provides a comprehensive analysis of pediatric eye care services across different geographies in India,” added Dr. Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director of Orbis.
The manual on Mapping of Human Resource and Infrastructure for Pediatric Eye Care Services in India will play a vital role in improving eye care service delivery in the country and ensuring that children receive the best possible eye care, preventing avoidable blindness. It is a crucial tool for the development of the pediatric eye care sector in India and will help bridge the gap in service delivery by mapping and analyzing human and material resources.
