.jpeg)
Standard Chartered Bank and LV Prasad Eye Institute Launch 'Closing the Gap' Program to Bring Vision Care to Siddipet
Upon the project's completion, Siddipet will have a strengthened eye care infrastructure, complete with well-trained personnel, enabling sustainable eye care services.
Standard Chartered Bank and the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) have joined forces to launch a groundbreaking community eye screening program, aptly named 'Closing the Gap,' in the Siddipet district of Telangana, India. This initiative seeks to address the global challenge of vision impairment, which affects approximately 253 million people worldwide, with the majority residing in developing countries where access to quality eye healthcare is often limited.
This collaborative effort is an extension of the partnership initiated in April 2019 under Standard Chartered Bank's 'Seeing is Believing (SiB)' program, aimed at making eye care services accessible and affordable. The SiB program has played a pivotal role in expanding community outreach and education efforts through the LV Prasad Eye Institute's network. Key achievements to date include the Standard Chartered-LVPEI Academy for Eye Care Education and the establishment of Futuristic Vision Centers, which have positively impacted over 270,000 individuals, with a particular focus on empowering women and providing employment opportunities to underprivileged members of society.
With the launch of 'Closing the Gap,' the partnership is taking a significant step forward in bringing high-quality eye care to the people of Siddipet. This project will span over four years, benefitting more than 500,000 individuals residing in 180 villages across nine mandals in the Siddipet district, with special attention to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women, and children.
The project's core objectives include building the capacity of local healthcare resources, engaging community eye health workers, conducting door-to-door eye screenings, and providing referrals and services at primary, secondary, and tertiary eye care facilities. The initiative's epicenter is the 'Krishna Sindhura Eye Centre,' a Secondary Eye Care Centre within Siddipet, which will serve as a hub for these critical services.
