Two Nepali ophthalmologists rendering services in Bangladesh

KATHMANDU: A team of two Nepali ophthalmologists- Sushila Patel and Sabita Dhakal – is now busy in Bangladesh to treat those suffering eye issues during the recent Bangladesh unrest.

The team is now in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.

The Lumbini Eye Institute and Research Center (Shree Rana Ambika Shah Eye Hospital), Bhairahawa recently sent the duo to Bangladesh. The Center is operated by the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS).

According to the Hospital’s manager Prakash Rayamajhi, Dr Patel is an associate professor for cornea surgery and Dr Dhakal is a Vitreoretina surgeon. They traveled to Bangladesh at the request of the National Institute of Ophthalmology in Dhaka.

Since October 4, the team has been offering treatments, including surgeries for severe eye trauma, retinal tears, retinal detachments, and bleeding in the eyes. The camp is concluding today.

NNJS general-secretary Bharat Bahadur Chand said that the doctors working at the hospital were sent to Bangladesh at the request of National Institute of Ophthalmology Dhaka and in coordination of Sewa Nepal and Sewa Foundation.

“It is our responsibility to assist our neighbours when they are in problem. We have conducted eye checkup camps in Bangladesh in the past also, at the coordination of the Dhaka-based Embassy of Nepal,” he said and expressed the confidence that this initiative will contribute towards further deepening the bilateral relations at the people’s level.

According to him, the Foundation has plan of organizing eye camps in various places of Bangladesh in the coming days as well, in partnership with the Nepali Embassy.

In recent years, Bangladeshi nationals have been coming to Nepal on a personal basis for eye treatment.

As per the NNJS data, more than 800 thousand eye patients from various countries, including India and Bangladesh, have availed of eye treatment services in Nepal in 2023 alone, through the NNJS network.

NNJS executive director Dr Shailesh Kumar Mishra said, “Last year alone more than 800 thousand non-Nepali patients availed of eye treatment services through our network. This shows that the citizens from other countries too have confidence in our service.”

He shared about the NNJS’ goal of promoting Nepal as the eye treatment tourism destination by serving the maximum number of patients- both Nepalis and foreigners.