Foundation offers free cataract surgeries, cut eye care cost by 60%

A new health care outfit plans to change attitudes toward eye care—by making 60% of all its services free of charge for patients. Tulsi Chanrai Foundation Eye Hospital says its 60% free services is “to benefit the poor and marginalised communities,” according to its founder Jagdish Chanrai. The rest of its services will be “highly […]

A new health care outfit plans to change attitudes toward eye care—by making 60% of all its services free of charge for patients.

Tulsi Chanrai Foundation Eye Hospital says its 60% free services is “to benefit the poor and marginalised communities,” according to its founder Jagdish Chanrai.

The rest of its services will be “highly subsidised for those who can afford.” Telime Emmanuel is among few patients to have tried out the claim.

The Nasarawa resident had undergone a previous eye surgery in Keffi last year.

A consultant diagnosed cataract and recommended it be removed.

“I saw the chief consultant, who told me that the cataract from this eye needs to be removed. So, I should prepare for a surgery,” Emmanuel said.

“They subsidize my treatment so much, I am paying 55,000 instead of 550,000.   I am happy that I can see well again,” Emmanuel said.

The 54-bed centre, which plans to expand to 100 beds, is run by a local team of 30 eye professionals who have recently undergone intensive training in India.

But the facility will be managed by India’s Aravind Eye Care System, a large provider of eye care. It is also expected to be self-sustaining in about four years.

Some 6,400 patients have already gone through Tulsi Chanrai since January. More than 1,000 have had eye surgeries, 850 of them “free for the poor”, according to the hospital.

The Hospital conducts eye camps every week within a 100-kilometre radius around Abuja to identify poor patients needing cataract and other surgeries.

Transport to and from the hospital, high quality eye surgeries, boarding and lodging , medication, post–operative review are provided totally free of charge to the patients.

Saidu Danjuma from Sabon Karshi was found during one of the eye camp.

“I had the eye surgery free and I am recovering at the moment,” Danjuma said from his hospital bed.