Japanese embassy presents medical equipment to Kirtipur Eye Hospital

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Ophthalmology Association has completed the handover program of eye health-related equipment provided to Kirtipur Eye Hospital and Study Center on behalf of Japanese citizens.

Kikuta Yutaka, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, handed over the materials today at a ceremony held at Kirtipur Eye Hospital.

The Japanese government’s (Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects-GGP) program provided a grant of approximately 18.5 million Nepali rupees for health materials related to the treatment of retinal diseases.

Kirtipur Eye Hospital, which began as an eye treatment center in 2072 by Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, was upgraded to an eye hospital in 2074. Since its inception, the hospital has provided quality eye care services to the general public at reasonable prices.

An agreement was signed between the Japanese Embassy in Nepal and the Nepal Ophthalmology Association on 2077 Kartik 19 to provide the necessary health equipment to make the services of this hospital more efficient and quality.

The hospital provided eye treatment services to 23 thousand 540 people in 2022, and more than 7 thousand people have undergone eye surgery from the hospital to date, with approximately 3 thousand people being operated free of charge.

Currently, the hospital operates four eye treatment centers in Kathmandu and Lalitpur. There is a Sankhu Eye Treatment Center in Kathmandu’s Shankharapur Municipality, a Dakshinkali Eye Treatment Center in Dakshinkali Municipality, a Chandragiri Eye Treatment Center in Chandragiri Municipality, and a Labhu Eye Treatment Center in Lalitpur’s Mahalaxmi Municipality.

Currently, Netra Jyoti Sangh provides citizens with accessible and high-quality eye healthcare through 27 eye hospitals, 150 eye treatment centers, and 44 district branches.

The association is providing quality services at people’s doorsteps in order to ensure that no citizen is forced to live blindly due to financial constraints, and for this purpose, the bright campaign program has also been implemented in collaboration with various agencies, through which many Nepalese citizens who are below the poverty line receive free eyesight. They also receive examination and surgical services.