The Kanti Velugu programme in Telangana is making great strides in its mission to prevent controllable blindness. The programme has screened over 96.7 lakh people in medical camps across the state in just 47 days, and is set to reach the milestone of one crore screenings in the next few days. The programme began on January 18 with the aim of making Telangana “Blindness Free”.
Of the 96,07,764 people examined in the second phase of the programme, 60.55% of the target has been reached. This includes 45 lakh males, 50 lakh females, and 3,112 transgender individuals. So far, reading glasses have been distributed to 15.65 lakh people, prescription glasses have been identified for 11.68 lakh people, and 68.73 lakh people have been diagnosed without any eye problems.
The first phase of the programme was launched in Malkapur of Medak district on August 15, 2018, and continued for eight months. During this time, free eye tests were conducted for 1.5 crore people and 50 lakh spectacles were distributed.
The Kanti Velugu programme has received positive feedback from those who have participated in the medical camps. The programme will continue until June 15, and so far, 52% of the target has been achieved in 6,567 Gram Panchayats out of a total of 12,789 in the state. Another 946 Gram Panchayats are nearing the target.
The second phase of the programme aims to conduct eye tests for 1.70 crore people in 100 working days. Medical officials are optimistic about reaching the planned target of one crore eye tests so far, and believe that if the programme continues in this way, it is possible to conduct Kanti Velugu tests for two crore people.
