3rd September 2024: Sightsavers India is proud to announce the successful completion of the India Fellowship Program by a distinguished group of young ophthalmologists. This 24-month fellowship, running from August 2022 to July 2024, was designed to provide comprehensive training and hands-on experience in eye care, especially rural eye care.
The six graduating fellows—Dr. Mohd Saif, Dr. Reshma Sonowal, Dr. Faizah Shahreer Ahmad, Dr. Aniza Nagpal, Dr. Saamragye Srivastava, and Dr. M. Srinivasan Gounder—received their specialized training at two of India’s premier eye care institutions, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, Delhi, and ICare Noida. Throughout the program, they extended critical ophthalmic services to underserved rural communities, significantly enhancing the availability of eye care in these regions.
Achievements of the Fellows:
The graduating cohort addressed the need for quality eye care services in rural pockets across Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh), Jhabua and Satna (Madhya Pradesh), Kalahandi (Odisha), Kasganj (Uttar Pradesh), and Hazaribagh (Jharkhand).
They extended OPD services, undertook comprehensive clinical assessments of over a lakh rural beneficiaries, and performed cataract surgeries for more than 14,000 individuals. Additionally, they participated in outreach camps in remote areas, offering their expertise to those who needed it the most.
They actively participated in the RAAB (Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness) survey in Samastipur, Bihar which aimed to estimate the prevalence and causes of avoidable blindness and visual impairment in people above 50 years of age and yielded a helpful amount of data.
The India Fellowship Programme by Sightsavers India is a testament to the organization’s commitment to eliminating avoidable blindness and promoting equal opportunities for visually impaired individuals. By training and deploying skilled ophthalmologists in rural areas, the Fellows are making a tangible impact on the eye health sector.
“The success of our fellows is a proud moment for Sightsavers India. Their hard work and perseverance have brought hope and vision to thousands in rural communities,” said RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India. “We are especially proud of the fact that they ventured into rural India and performed extensive fieldwork. They have set a high standard for future fellows and have made a lasting impact on the communities they serve. We look forward to welcoming more dedicated fellows in the coming years and continuing our mission to eliminate avoidable blindness.”