The National Conference On Community Ophthalmology being the 16th Annual Conference of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight India jointly with the MD 322 Sight First Conclave was organized at Siliguri Greater Lions Shri Vidya Sagar Oswal Eye Hospital, a branch hospital of Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospitals and Eye Care Systems and a permanent project of Lions Club Of Siliguri Greater on 3rd & 4th September 2022.
The Conference was inaugurated on September 3rd virtually by Chief Guest Dr. V. K Paul, Member Niti Ayog. Lion A P Singh, 3rd International Vice President of Lions Club International blessed the conference with his presence on both 3rd and 4th September 2022. Vision2020: The Right To Sight India President Mr. R. N Mohanty, CEO Vision 2020 Dr. Phanindra Babu Nukella, International Director of Lions Clubs International Lion R. Mathanagopal, Multiple Council Chairman Lion Shankar Das, Past International Director Lion G. S Hora and Past International Director Lion Bishnu Bajoria were some of the Lions dignitaries present in the conference.
The 2 day 16th Annual Conference of Vision 2020: The Right To Sight India and the MD 322 Sight First Annual Conclave was jointly conducted for the first time in the history of the country and saw an overwhelming foot fall of 900+ eye hospital delegates including Ophthalmologists, Ophthalmic professionals, Pharma & Optical Care companies, CEOs, Operations and Administrative staff from 230+ eye hospitals which included 150+ Vision 2020 eye hospitals and 73+ Lions Eye Hospitals from across the nation and also all International NGOs supporting the cause of Community Ophthalmology. Setting the goal of the 2 day programme Dr. V. K Paul in his inaugural address stressed on increasing the number of Ophthalmologists in India from the present 21000+. He added that presently one Ophthalmologist is available to cater to a population of more than a lakh and work has to begin to double the available number of ophthalmologist in next 3 years urging for support from the visiting delegates from premium ophthalmic institutes of the country. Adding to what Dr. V. K Paul said Guest Of Honour Lion A. P Singh highlighted the work of the 150+ Lions Eye Hospitals in the country and the contribution Lions Eye Hospitals have made towards meeting the Vision 2020 goal of creating an avoidable blindness free nation. Stressing on essential collaborations to increase infrastructural and human resource capacity he welcomed all stakeholders to join hands to pave the way towards mission 2030 where no one is left behind.
From the programme inauguration stage the Annual Sight First Change Maker Awards 2022 was also announced for the Category of Eye Health Hero to PDG Lion Dr. Abdul Kaiyum from Raniganj, while Ritwik Bhattacharya, a young Vision Technician from Jamalpur was awarded with the Eye Health Imminent Leader Award. Similarly, Vision 2020 member hospitals were also awarded under different catergories for their exemplary & outstanding work in eye care.
The 2 day workshop saw more than 200+ sessions under 5 different scientific tracks and continuously running 11+ Classroom Workshops. Elaborate discussion took place on strategies to attain the Theme of the Conference ‘Leave No One Behind’. The goal of the Conference was to equip all Hospitals and Eye Care providers with strategies and methodology to be adopted for spreading the work of community eye care to every nook and corner of the Country so that no single patient is devoid to access quality eye care due to financial constraints, inaccessibility or distances involved in ensuring reach for quality eye care to them.
The programme also saw more than 32+ companies, market players in eye care who exhibited their products, diagnostic and treatment equipments to the visiting guests. The programme began with the Pre-Conference Session on September 2nd on Quality and Accreditation for eye hospitals seeking NABH certification and continued for the next 2 days concluding on September 4th, 2022. The programme was the first such event to bring Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital and its eye care services across the region to the national board pulling necessary attention and recognition to the Lions service hospital. Through the programme the delegates visiting from across the country also witnessed the Gateway to the North East India, Siliguri as a city of service and of multiple Lions service projects.
