न्यूज अभियान
हरेक खबर विशेष खबर

Kathmandu, Aug 11:  A free eye camp organised in Thakurgaon, a northern district of Bangladesh has benefitted around 3,000 locals.

The camp, an initiative of the Biratnagar Eye Hospital, operated by the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS), ran for five days beginning on August 2. 

The camp recorded 2,894 free eye tests and 156 cataract surgeries, according to a press statement issued by the organization said. 

A 13-memer team also comprising ophthalmologists Dr Pragya Luintel, Dr Ganga Sagar Shah, Deependra Chaudhary, Bidyananda Chaudhary and Mo Rafiq rendered the services during the camp. 

It is said such an initiative that has been in place since 2023 is targeted at citizens mainly from those indigent communities in various districts of Bangladesh. 

The event is expected to help promote the concept of 'Health Tourism', fostering health cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh, said Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh Central Chair Pro Dr Chet Raj Pant. 

At the programme, Pratik Karki, Deputy Chief of the Nepali Embassy in Bangladesh, said that such initiatives have contributed to further strengthening people-to-people relations and health diplomacy between the two countries.

 Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Advisor (Ministerial) on Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperative Affairs of Bangladesh inaugurated the event. 

According to the organiser, free eye examination, disease diagnosis, medicine distribution and cataract surgery services were the parts of the camp. 

It is said that Viva Care Limited and Thakurgaon Diabetes Committee of Bangladesh have supported the operation of the camp. 

Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS) has claimed that it has been expanding quality and accessible eye health services throughout Nepal for the past four decades through 28 eye hospitals and 226 eye treatment centers.

Increasing demand for free eye treatment camps in foreign countries
NNJS has been providing technical support, capacity building, training for doctors and health workers, free eye camps, and specialist services not only in Nepal but also in countries like India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Ethiopia.

According to the NNJS, in recent years, the number of patients coming from Bangladesh to eye hospitals in Nepal for quality and affordable eye treatment has been steadily increasing.

The camp held in Thakurgaon has not only strengthened trust in Nepali eye care services but also been reported to significantly contribute to promoting eye health tourism, as the number of patients coming from Bangladesh to Nepal for treatment is expected to increase.

According to the NNJS, the growing cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh in the health sector has not only expanded access to cross-border health services but also positively contributed to Nepal's eye treatment services and the promotion of 'health tourism'.