Transformative Milestone: World Bank-Funded Eye Care Hospital Brings Hope to Boko, Assam
A new affordable eye care hospital, funded by the World Bank, has been inaugurated near Boko police station to serve the communities in and around Boko. This facility, the 6th edition by ERC Eye Hospital, was unveiled by senior managers Sanku Sharma, Rajib Sarma, Dhanmani Choudhury, and Sahid Afridi. They emphasized ERC’s mission to address the growing need for accessible eye care.
Dignitaries from the Sophia Foundation Denmark and NEDFi, along with ERC patients, attended the ceremony. Rajib Sharma outlined the hospital’s comprehensive services, including eye examinations, surgeries, and prescriptions, targeting residents from Boko and remote areas like Lampi, Hahim, and Nagarbera, where accessibility remains a challenge. A mobile team will facilitate eye check-ups in these rural regions.
Sanku Sharma highlighted the global eye care crisis, with over 2 billion needing services, many hindered by lack of local facilities, as reported by WHO. The ERC initiative aims to mitigate these barriers, citing studies from Lancet that improved vision can enhance income and productivity significantly.
ERC’s efforts are internationally recognized, having received support from global organizations and platforms like the World Economic Forum and BBC. With backing from the World Bank and North East Venture Fund, reinforced by a grant from Berlin’s Impact Foundation, ERC has served over 10 lakh individuals in Northeast India, delivering affordable treatments.
The hospital offers full consultations with 12 ophthalmologists for Rs 50, eyeglasses for Rs 250, and cataract surgeries for Rs 3300, significantly reducing costs compared to Guwahati rates, as shared by a patient from the Goroimari area. Similarly, Mira Mahanta from Pakharapara village found local care more accessible than traveling to Nepal.
This hospital represents a critical healthcare advancement for the region, aligning with ERC’s vision of widespread, affordable eye care.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-world-bank-funded-eye-care-hospital-opens-in-boko-1152099-2025-01-09?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-01-09 18:07:00
