Srinagar, Sep 30 (KNO): Brigadier Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi, on Wednesday said ‘Op Drishti’ was not merely a medical camp but an 'ongoing mission' aimed at taking specialised eye care to people living in remote and challenging areas.
Addressing at the closing ceremony of Phase-II of the ‘Mega Cataract Surgery Camp’ under ‘Op Drishti’ at Chinar Auditorium, 92 Base Hospital, Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar, Brigadier Mishra, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said,
“Nearly 6,000 people had been screened through 18 screening camps conducted across different remote areas. I want to thank everyone who supported this initiative. This is not just a camp; it is an ongoing mission.”
Brig Mishra said the initiative focused on patients whose vision had deteriorated, those suffering from advanced cataract and patients requiring glaucoma-related surgical intervention.
He said the first phase of the surgeries was conducted at an underground operation theatre at Tangdhar, while the second phase was carried out at the operation theatre of 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar.
He said patients were identified through screening camps conducted in remote areas, including Machil and Tangdhar, and were subsequently brought for treatment. “This is an initiative to reach people living in difficult and challenging areas of the country and provide them the assistance they need,” he said.
Brig Mishra said the initiative was the 11th such camp conducted so far, with similar initiatives also held in places including Lakshadweep and Leh.
He expressed gratitude to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the Army Chief, the Air Force, and the teams from Delhi, Srinagar and Tangdhar for their support in making the initiative possible.
He also thanked the people of Kashmir for their trust and support, saying their encouragement had strengthened the resolve of the medical teams to continue such outreach programmes.
Brig Mishra acknowledged the contribution of 92 Base Hospital and its Commanding Officer in successfully conducting the campaign.
Meanwhile, an official, told KNO, said the mega surgical programme was conducted in two phases, with 200 cataract surgeries performed at the Underground Forward Surgical Centre in Tangdhar on September 24–25, followed by another 200 surgeries at 92 Base Hospital, Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar, on September 28–29.
The official said the screening exercise was conducted through 18 camps across forward and remote locations, including Tangdhar, Dawar, Machhal, Uri, Baramulla, Bandipora, Khanabal and Kangan, where nearly 6,000 patients were screened and around 400 were identified for cataract surgery.
The official said the Tangdhar phase marked the first time cataract surgeries on such a scale were conducted at an underground Forward Surgical Centre, allowing specialised ophthalmic treatment to be taken closer to people living in difficult border areas.
The official added that the surgical team and specialised equipment were subsequently moved from Tangdhar to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar for the second phase of the programme—(KNO)