?

The main objective of the National Blindness Control Programme is to reduce the prevalence of blindness in the country from 14 per 1000 to 3 per 1000 population.?? This programme was implemented under World Bank Assisted Cataract Blindness Control Project by the Tamil Nadu State Blindness Control Society from 1.4.1996 to 30.6.2002 with an outlay of Rs. 72.00 crores.

?

Under this Project, 35 base eye wards with Operation Theatres and 315 dark rooms were constructed and furnished and 17,95,044 cataract operations were performed.? Apart from the above, IOL training to 148 Ophthalmic Surgeons and 73 Nurses were imparted. Advanced Ophthalmic Instruments / equipments were? provided to the Teaching Medical Institutions and District Headquarters Hospitals for rendering quality eye care services to the public.

?

??????????? After completion of the above project on 30.6.2002, the Government of India has taken up the Cataract Blindness Control Programme under National Programme for Control of Blindness as a 100% Centrally Sponsored Programme from 1.7.2002 with financial outlay of Rs. 715.00 lakhs in the current year.

?

??????????? For effective implementation and monitoring of the work at District level, a District Blindness Control Society has been formed in all the Districts.? The District Collector is the President of the Society.? The District Blindness Control Society conducts eye camps with the help of Voluntary Organisations and District Mobile Ophthalmic Units. It also provides financial assistance to Voluntary Organisations for performing Cataract Operations.? Creation of awareness about the scheme among the general public is also one of the main functions of the Society.

?

3,22,000 cataract surgeries have been performed during 2002-2003.? Commodity assistance for Rs. 132.80 lakhs has been provided to strengthen the eye care facilities.