Impact of implementation of blindness control activities in the Southern Indian States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Abstract

The objective of this research study was to determine the impact of blindness control activities in general and also with special reference to the Andhra Pradesh Right to Sight Society (APRTSS) activities in the Southern Indian States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. As part of the global initiative of “VISION 2020: The Right to Sight”, the APRTSS was established in the year 2002. Since then the APRTSS has actively implemented the strategies of Vision 2020. The blindness control activities in both States are being implemented by multiple stakeholders including the Government through National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB), national and international non-governmental organizations and the private sector.

The data were collected at two reference points, the base year 2002-03 (when APRTSS was established) and the target year 2012-13. The questionnaire was designed based on the six blocks of universal health system to collect information on all aspects of eye care service delivery. In addition, some questions were framed to elicit specific information about the activities of APRTSS. Oral interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire based on Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis and administered to the policy makers and major stakeholders in eye care to identify critical success factors in eye care service delivery.

The cataract surgical rate increased by 18%, the good cataract surgical outcomes increased by 26%, eye care facilities increased by 121%, ophthalmologists number increased by 91.7%, awareness of eye diseases increased from 28% to 77% from 2002-03 to 2012-13. The overall impact can be summarized as increased public awareness, and professional, political and government commitment to the prevention of blindness. Coordination among the NGOs has increased and a partnership between all major stakeholders such as Government, NGOs and the private sector has developed with the common goal to eliminate avoidable blindness. The study provided information on the deficiencies in the eye care service delivery in the State and suggested new ways to address the problem of blindness and visual impairment in the State and also gave an opportunity to disseminate the information with regard to critical success factors identified from the study.