Udhayanidhi Stalin, MLA from Chepauk, today launched an India Vision Institute (IVI) Mobile Eye  Clinic at Lock Nagar, Chennai. Australia’s Consul-General, Sarah Kirlew, Dayanidhi Maran MP, and  IVI’s CEO Vinod Daniel were present at the launch event. 

“With the launch of the Mobile Eye Bus Van, IVI will bring eye care to the doorstep of the  underprivileged community, including the elderly and women,” said IVI’s CEO Vinod Daniel.  

“Our special thanks to Mr Udhayanidhi Stalin for launching the mobile clinic. The mobile van will  increase our reach to the community, particularly the underprivileged, providing them not only access  to vision screening but also help in diagnosing other ocular health conditions,” he said. 

“Fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, the van will help us provide comprehensive eye  screening services to the underprivileged in Chennai. In the first 12 months, we will cover five Urban  Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) in Tiruvottiyur zone and four UPHCs in Sholinganallur zone. In  addition, we will reach underprivileged people in Lock Nagar, Pumping Station, Cox Colony,  Palavakkam, Chinna Neelankarai, Karapakkam, Perumbakkam, Srinivasapuram and Avadi,” he noted. 

‘IVI has been a close partner with us in several projects and I am happy to be here today at the launch  of their new initiative. We wish them all the best,’ said Ms Kirlew. 

“With this comprehensive eye care program, IVI expects to reach over 8,000 people in the next six  months, create eye health awareness and ensure that no one becomes blind due to unavailability of  treatment for eye conditions such as Refractive Errors (RE), Cataract, and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). People detected with such conditions will be referred to hospital for further examination. 

We thank Sightsavers and SBI Capital for their support in bringing the mobile van to Chennai. The  support of the State Blindness Control Society is also acknowledged,” Mr Daniel added. 

Today’s screenings at Lock Nagar are organised in association with Cheer Foundation and Recycle  Bin as part of the public health program under the Lifeline project.  

About India Vision Institute 

India Vision Institute is an Indian not-for-profit nongovernmental organization (NGO) whose activities span  across the country in 22 states. Our Eye See & I Learn and Eye See & I Work campaigns reach constituencies  where services are lacking and most required – notably children and adults. IVI has undertaken over 1,100 vision  screening programs in and around Chennai and other states in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal,  Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Mizoram, New Delhi, Odisha, Pondicherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,  Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Some 400,000 people from underprivileged communities (including  around 300,000 children) have been screened and free spectacles distributed to 65,000 individuals (including 30,000  children). IVI also works to upgrading optometrists’ skills and building capacity and equip optometrists to cope with  challenges in their careers. We organise advocacy activities, talks, education, skill enhancement, and leadership  development programs. 

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For queries if any, call Shekhar Nambiar at +919810154167