The Poona Blind Men’s Association (PBMA) is a non-profit, non-government, was founded in 1952, registered as Charitable organization under the Society Registration Act. So donations are eligible for tax benefits to resident Indian tax payers.
In 2000, PBMA established H.V.Desai Eye Hospital on a 5-acre land in Hadapsar, Pune. The Eye hospital is accredited by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare providers (NABH) for quality standards and accepted as NGO partner for prevention of blindness program by the Government of India. The hospital has all specialty eye care departments to offer treatment for Cataract, Glaucoma, Retina, Squint, Oculoplasty, Refractive Surgery.
The Community Outreach programs cater to population in and around Pune, Satara, Raigad, Aurangabad, Osmanabad, Solapur, Nasik, Dhule, Jalgaon. The hospital provides quality eye care services with equity to all rural, semi-urban and urban areas across all age groups (infants, school children, adults, senior citizen) and families with low income (Below Poverty Line).
The hospital has established 35 Vision Centres around Pune. A team of Ophthalmic assistants, community health workers also conduct door to door eye screening, identify patients who need Spectacles, Medical and even Surgical treatment. Basic eye examination along with Spectacles and medical treatment (Tele-Ophthalmology) is given by the Vision Centre staff. Identified patients who need eye surgery are brought in a hospital bus to Pune, given 2 nights stay and then travel back to their home town in hospital buses.
In the first 20 years, more than 50 lakh patients were given eye care in the OPD, Specialty eye departments and more than 5.80 lakh patients were operated for various eye disorders.
The hospital also has a team of 28 highly educated, skilled Eye surgeons (Ophthalmologists), Medical Officers, Nurses, OT technicians, Optometrists working in all the OPD & specialty eye departments. There are 14 operation theatres, and about 350 patients can stay overnight, if necessary after their eye surgery. On an average, more than 500 patients and 1000 consultations are seen in OPD / IPD during the day and 175 to 200 eye operations are performed every day.
As per 2020 estimates by International Association for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), in India, 270 million (2.7 Cr) people have vision loss, and of these 9.2 million (92 lakh) people were blind. With a large population ageing in the next few decades, this number will increase many fold. This will create a burden on economy and a big impact on living standards for everyone.
As part of it’s intervention to reduce this burden, Eye hospitals need to increase their capacity many fold. PBMA’s H.V.Desai Eye Hospital management has resolved to perform more than 6 lakh eye surgeries by the year 2030. Of these 65% will be done completely free for patients who cannot afford this cost of treatment. We are grateful to many NGOs, International NGOs, Rotary clubs, and some Philanthropic business corporations who donate for this noble cause.
On the journey of achieving our 2030 goal, and beyond, we have to expand our infra-structure, improve our geographical reach AND also upgrade our medical facilities and clinical staff.
In order to continue doing this work with sincerity and dedication, the management of H.V.Desai Eye Hospital appeals to individuals, corporates and NGOs to partner with us and support this cause by direct donations.
You can make a difference in many lives by your generous donation. Your gift will help fund many eye surgeries and bring smiles across India