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Reference ID U277T68

Headline Vision in India - 2019

Description India Vision September 2019

Biswanath Dey is 60 years old. Six months ago he was diagnosed with cataracts, but couldn’t afford the operation to treat them.
“It’s becoming hazier day by day,” he revealed. “Near things are cloudy. I can see big things [far away], but not smaller things. I’ve just got used to this and normally I don’t take my truck out at night so it’s not that difficult. I adjust to the difficulties I face – my eyes accommodate. I have fixed routes to two places, so since I go daily I know where is what.”

It’s a tough life being a truck driver in India. The vast distances and gruelling schedules mean many drivers live on the road, with only an occasional trip home to see their family.

Astonishingly, research in 2017 showed poor eyesight could be putting almost half of India’s truck drivers – and other road users – at further risk.

But their transient lifestyle, lack of free time and limited income mean that getting help for eye conditions, and receiving follow-up treatment, just isn’t possible.

To help drivers get the eye treatment they need, Sightsavers India has created a system that takes eye care services directly to them.
(Source : Sightsavers)

Read more about Sightsavers’ work here : https://www.sightsavers.org/from-the-field/2019/10/helping-indian-truckers-stay-safe-behind-the-wheel/

WHO: https://www.who.int/health-topics/blindness-and-vision-loss#tab=tab_1

Asset date 09/01/2019

Country, area, WHO office India

City Kolkata

State/Province West Bengal

Location Roadside truck stop, Tantipara Balistand

WHO Region SEARO

Consent Yes

File size 8.22 MB

Visibility class:

Public

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