14th October 2024: In observance of World Sight Day, ENTOD Pharmaceuticals launched a series of impactful initiatives aimed at raising awareness about children’s eye health and addressing the rising concern of vision impairment across India. The campaign spanned 12 states to promote eye care and make essential products accessible to those in need.
This year’s World Sight Day theme, “Love Your Child’s Eye,” focuses on the importance of protecting vision, raising awareness about vision impairment and blindness, and encouraging proper eye care practices. Uncorrected vision issues can significantly affect education and social inclusion, but simple solutions like spectacles can make a profound difference. The global SPECS 2030 initiative, launched by the WHO in May 2024, intends to ensure affordable access to quality spectacles and related services for everyone who needs them.
As part of the initiative, ENTOD organized eye care awareness camps in key regions such as Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Mumbai, Karnataka, Punjab, and Gujarat. These camps distributed free samples of eye drops and supplements to needy people, ensuring better access to crucial eye care products. More than 40,000 patients were reached through these efforts, supported by 5,000 volunteers and more than 30 experienced doctors. To further broaden the campaign’s reach, ENTOD produced patient awareness videos in over 12 regional languages, providing vital information on children’s eye health to audiences across the country.
“We are proud to have been able to contribute towards children’s eye health on the occasion of World Sight Day, in particular raising awareness of childhood myopia, which affects almost 1 in every 4 children in India. This initiative is just one part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that people, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, understand the importance of good eye care. Our teams and volunteers have worked tirelessly to make this possible,” said Mr. Nikkhil K. Masurkar, CEO of ENTOD Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Aloka Hedau (Pediatric Ophthalmologist & Squint Surgeon) Hyderabad, a doctor participating in the campaign, added, “It’s essential to educate the public about the importance of regular eye check-ups and early detection of conditions like myopia, especially in children. This campaign not only raised awareness but also provided direct care to many who may not have had access otherwise. The participation from doctors and volunteers has been incredible, and the positive response we’ve received shows just how necessary these initiatives are.”
She continued, “Managing and preventing myopia in children involves encouraging outdoor activities, limiting screen time, and ensuring proper lighting when reading or studying. Regular eye check-ups are critical for early detection, and solutions like glasses or contact lenses can significantly improve a child’s quality of life. Through campaigns like this, we hope to make these solutions more accessible to the public.”
