Gorkha (2018)
Where: Chipleti village in Siranchok, Gorkha (Nepal).
When: December 2018.
Key highlights: In 3 days, SeeNepal was able to provide free eye examinations to 456 villagers and spectacles to 293 of those in need. During the eye camp, a preliminary list of patients with cataract symptoms was also compiled and handed over to the local health centre. In March 2019, 69 of the cataract-diagnosed patients during SeeNepal’s eye camp underwent free cataract surgery in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.
SeeNepal’s outreach programme in Gorkha
The idea of an outreach programme was seeded in late 2017 during conversations with friends who wanted to volunteer in Nepal. This came into fruition a year later, and the SeeNepal Foundation was born.
Nepal had suffered devastating earthquakes in 2015 and Gorkha was the epicentre. Therefore, we wanted to start our outreach programme in Gorkha, and we originally named it "Glasses to Gorkha". The main aim of the project was to provide independence to the villagers by restoring their sight, where possible, through the provision of free eye tests and spectacles.
The SeeNepal team took an experienced team of optometrists, optical experts, dispensing opticians, and many kind-hearted volunteers to the village of Chipleti in Siranchok, Gorkha, the home of one of our Co-Founders Gaumaya Gurung.
From the 17th-19th December 2018, SeeNepal provided free eye examinations to 456 villagers and spectacles to 293 of them. For many, this was their first ever eye examination. On receiving spectacles, they shared their sheer joy - to be able to read, see people's faces at a distance, put a thread into a needle, and separate rice from the chaff. This all may sound like ordinary tasks, but it was a beautiful gift of independence, which dramatically helped to enhance the quality of their lives.
During the eye camp, a preliminary list of patients with cataract symptoms was also compiled and handed over to Sunita Gurung, Health Asisstant at the local health centre. These patients were immediately referred for further treatment in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu. In March 2019, 69 of the cataract-diagnosed patients underwent free cataract surgery, a truly transformative procedure that restores clear vision for patients suffering from the highly common condition of cataract.
SeeNepal would like to extend sincere and heartfelt gratitude to all our donors, volunteers, supporters and sponsors, for their time, dedication, support and without whom "Glasses to Gorkha" would not have been possible.
To get a true insight into the brilliant work SeeNepal managed to achieve thanks to our incredible donors and supporters, watch the heart-warming video below:
