Driven to suicide by blindness: How a woman finds a second chance at sight and life City Talk Losing one’s sight is terrifying and daunting. It leaves the visually impaired person reliant on those around them to assist them in navigating their way through the world. Without the help and generosity of others, it can lead to a loss of hope and tragically sometimes life. 55-year-old Chyo Maya Praja lives high up in [...]
Discrimination against Dalits: How status can affect eye health City Talk The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation has recently set up camps in Nepal where members of the highly discriminated against Dalits received cataract-curing surgery. Many cultures have systems of hierarchy entwined in their makeup. In the United Kingdom we have had the hierarchy of Kings and Queens, Knights and Noblemen, followed by merchants and peasants. [...]
Curing a village of needless blindness City Talk In a rural fishing and farming village in Morang District of Nepal, a team from the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation set up a screening camp on 15th August 2022. From the village, over 150 people were screened and 23 of those were found to be living with cataracts. This is an extremely common form [...]
How sustainable is eyecare? September 28, 2022 Dr John Buchan, Assistant Professor of International Eye Health LSHTM Climate change is regarded by many as the greatest long-term threat to global health in the 21st century. Although modest progress has been made by many sectors, overall, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to rise. Health services are substantial contributors to national greenhouse gas emissions [...]
8 Facts about cataracts September 28, 2022 What is cataract blindness? A cataract is a clouding of the lens of your eye. Cataracts a relatively common and are one of the most common causes of visual impairment. Cataracts can make your vision hazy, blurry and dull and can cause trouble reading or doing normal activities. What are the symptoms of cataracts? Symptoms [...]
Curing cataracts in Nepal’s Bajhang district September 27, 2022 The Bajhang district is in Nepal’s remote far-western region and boasts untamed natural beauty. However, the district is also one of the country’s most isolated regions. For those seeking primary healthcare services, they would have to reach the district’s headquarters in Chainpur, and for any other specialised health service, they would have to make a [...]
Shop owner and mother receives a second chance at sight September 26, 2022 In August, the Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation travelled to the Kingdom of Bhutan on a mission to eradicate cataract blindness to reduce extreme poverty. This is part of a collaboration between us, the Bhutanese Ministry of Health, and the Royal Government of Bhutan under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Gyalyum Kesang Choeden Wangchuck. [...]
Sight and smiles restored by cataract surgery in Nepal September 26, 2022 In March 2022, the Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation staged one of the biggest cataract microsurgical camps ever organised in mountainous Nepal. The team organised seven screening camps from 15th to 22nd of March focussing especially on reaching out to extremely marginalised communities of the region, as those are the groups that are least likely [...]
Visual impairments cause a loss of education September 25, 2022 Many blind children in developing countries often have restricted access to education, when paired with a visual disadvantage, it is near impossible for them to learn at all. With some progress being made, often with the assistance of international organisations, there is still a long way to go in terms of supporting visually impaired youth. [...]
There is still time to join City Giving Day 2022 September 23, 2022 With City Giving Day fast approaching it is never too late to sign up to take part in this year’s event. Each year City Giving Day celebrates the value of the City to society and how businesses can make a difference, as part of The Lord Mayor’s Appeal’s bid to create a fair society. The [...]