Wed Nov 20 13:43:06 UTC 2024: ## Assam to Implement WHO’s Global Eye Care Project
**GUWAHATI, Assam – November 20, 2024** – Assam will soon implement a large-scale World Health Organization (WHO) project aimed at combating refractive errors, a leading cause of vision impairment affecting over 2.2 billion people globally. The “Strengthening Provision of Eye Care Services” (SPECS 2030) project, a first of its kind for South and Southeast Asia, will initially focus on three districts of Assam: Kamrup, Morigaon, and Nagaon.
The initiative, a collaboration between the WHO, the National Health Mission, the Assam government, and the Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya (SSDN), will utilize an “Integrated People-Centred Eye Care” model based on SSDN’s community service framework. This model, piloted in Sonapur, successfully addressed issues like accessibility and affordability of treatment. The pilot included village-wide screening and transportation to hospitals, with all treatment costs covered.
A WHO official highlighted that only 36% of people with refractive errors have access to appropriate spectacles, resulting in significant economic losses estimated at $411 billion annually. The SPECS 2030 project aims to create a sustainable model that can be replicated across India and globally.
A workshop on November 21st and 22nd will bring together WHO officials, Indian and Assamese government representatives, and ophthalmology experts to finalize the project’s implementation plan. The project’s success hinges on addressing the lack of access to affordable eye care, particularly in low- and middle-income regions. The long-term goal is to improve the quality of life for millions by providing accessible and sustainable eye care services.
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