8-yr-old with congenital cataract gets vision

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 7

Partially sighted, eight-year-old Jagjit Singh from Balluana village was staring at a gloomy future. Jagjit was suffering from congenital cataracts and with the passage of each year, his condition was worsening. But not until he was screened positive for disability during a field activity by a Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) team at Government Primary School, Balluana, this year.

After fulfilling the required formalities and documentation process, he was operated upon for congenital cataracts and got his vision back now. With no awareness and limited financial resources, his father Manga Singh had given up all hopes of recovery from partial blindness. After running from pillar to post to get treatment, Jagjit’s parents were waiting for some miracle that could bring their son’s vision back. 

Jagjit was operated upon free of cost under the RBSK scheme for congenital cataracts.

Eye specialists at the Civil Hospital said Jagjit could barely see when his parents brought him here for treatment by holding his hand. After he was operated successfully, he went back to his home on his own.

Manphool Singh, district co-coordinator, RBSK, said, “Under the scheme, dedicated mobile health teams conducted screenings at government schools and anganwadi centres. He said these teams identified children affected by congenital cataracts to ensure that they get free treatment. Jagjit is the first kid in the district to avail free treatment under the scheme.”

Around 1.20 lakh students from 691 government schools and 60,000 children from 1,385 anganwadi centres are screened annually in the district to diagnose different diseases or disabilities. After the screening, patients are identified before providing them free treatment under the RBSK scheme.

Kundal Pal, nodal officer, said, “Children with congenital disorders or disabilities can avail free diagnosis and treatment under the scheme. Our officials conducting the field activity can be reached out for the same.”