tag-iconNeeds more donors to continue operations

Help the elderly see with a cataract surgery by HelpAge India

Needs more donors to continue operations

Help the elderly see with a cataract surgery

Thank you!

This program is fully funded because of donors like you.

Impact

Jani gets her sight back with a little help!

Jani Shankar Phadwade is a 67 year old woman. She lives in a village in Jawhar Taluka in Palghar district. This is a tribal belt about 100 kms from Mumbai.

Jani used to work as a manual laborer in the fields to earn a living. At an age where this was hard enough, her situation became worse when her vision started failing. She was in utter despair as she thought that she was going blind and would lose her means of livelihood.

She attended the screening camp organized at her village by HelpAge with the help of Bhakti Vedanta Hospital. It was then, that that she learnt that she had a cataract in her left eye. However, she knew that she did not have the money for an operation and the hospital expenses. She felt completely hopeless.

She was thrilled to find out that the surgery would be free. She was happy that for once, she was getting the care she deserved. She was treated free of cost under HelpAges Restoration of Vision program for destitute elders.

Her operation was soon done was successfully. Now, she can see clearly, something which she had totally given up hope on.

Today Janis eyes twinkle as she gives her famous toothless smile. With her sight restored, she feels independent and spends most of her days looking after her home.

Your help can make this surgery possible for poor elderly people like Jani. You can donate to cover the surgery expenses and help HelpAge provide surgery services to many more needy elders. You can give with confidence because every program listed is GIVEASSURED.

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By donating to this program

You will be sponsoring the benefits for different beneficiaries every month


About The Program

What the beneficiary gets
Surgery
Healthcare
Nutrition
What you get
Tax Exemption
Periodic Reports
Program Description

HelpAge conducts cataract eye surgeries in 21 states. Credible and competent eye hospitals and organizations carry out surgeries with HelpAge Indias support. All surgeries under the program are performed only in base hospitals.

Cataract is one the major causes of blindness in India. Close to 12 million elders in India suffer from cataract affected blindness and cannot afford treatment.

HelpAge enters into agreements with identified hospitals after a thorough due diligence of infrastructure and implementation capability of the institution. The hospitals are provided a grant for a specified period of time during which a pre-agreed number of cataract surgeries are to be conducted.

HelpAge has offices in all large states of the country and has the regional implementation teams actively monitoring and tracking the implementation of the cataract project round the year. They also conduct audits of the partners accounts to ensure that funds are utilised as agreed.

At the hospital, there are regular screening camps conducted to identify patients with cataract who are then transported to the hospitals for surgery and taken back to their hometowns two days later with necessary post-operative medication.

HelpAge receives regular reports with details of each individual patient from the hospital which can be then independently verified.

Since 1980, this program has benefitted more than 9 lakh elders, not just restoring their sight but enabling them to go back to work and live a life of dignity.

HelpAge, through this program conducts more than 45,000 cataract eye surgeries annually. This year HelpAge is looking to conduct close to 60000 cataract surgeries across the country.

Each of your monthly donation you make will be utilised towards conducting one cataract surgery in the most underserved part of the country where accessibility to health facilities is low.

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About The NGO

HelpAge India
HelpAge India Logo
HelpAge India

Helpage India aims to serve elder needs in a holistic manner, enabling them to live active, dignified and healthier lives.

In a country of 104 million elders, 51 million live below the poverty line. By 2050 the number of senior citizens is estimated to rise to 324 million. With more than half the country's elderly living below the poverty line, even day to day survival is crucial.

Where quality of life is concerned for these elderly, there is much left to be desired. Inadequate healthcare, minimal or no pension and a depleting source of income, often force the destitute rural elderly to continue working despite physical hardships.

HelpAge India is a leading charity in India working with and for disadvantaged elderly for nearly 4 decades. HelpAge advocates for their needs such as for Universal pension, Quality healthcare, Action against Elder Abuse and many more at a national, state and societal level with Central and State governments.

HelpAges focus over the years has moved from welfare to development. They provide elderly relief through various age-care interventions.

They conduct cataract surgeries to restore sight of elders, looks after their basic needs though its Support-a-Gran program, runs Elder Helplines across the country, provides relief & rehabilitation for elderly post disasters and provides active-ageing opportunities.

They run one of the largest mobile healthcare programs through its Mobile Healthcare Units. These units operate across the country providing free healthcare services to destitute elders.

They also help elders earn their livelihood through the formation of Elder-Self-Help Groups making them self-reliant.

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founders
Founded in 1991
NGO Leadership

Mathew Cherian

areas of operation
Area of Operation
Area of Operation

Cataract | elderly

location of work
Location of Work
Location of Work

Delhi

last audited
Last Audited
Periodic Compliance Checks by GiveIndia

Renewals FY 19-20

Program Updates

Program Updates

22 September, 2023

An update on the program you are supporting

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Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months

1056 surgeries were done in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal & Andhra Pradesh


Challenges faced and next steps

An update from this program has not been made available by the nonprofit. We hope to hear more about their work in the coming months


Stories from the ground

Sri Kuppusamy, for the past six months, he was suffering with poor vision and he could not manage to carry on with his regular activities. When he got his eyes checked at a local hospital and found that he was suffering from vision loss due to cataract and needed surgery immediately. Support given: Through Free Eye Screening Camp organized in his locality and visited the camp at Acharapakkam on 9th February 2023 organized by HI and Sankara Eye Hospital, Chennai. Based on his consent, he was brought to the hospital the same day and Small Incision Cataract Surgery with IOL in Left Eye was performed. Progress: He got good vision and able to manage his regular activities. He and his family members were delighted that his vision had been restored with the support from HelpAge India without incurring any cost from their end.


23 January, 2023

Half Yearly Impact Report

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Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months

Project Period: January, 2022 to June, 2022 Against the target for supporting 2625 cataract surgeries, during the project period a total of 108 eye screening camps were organized and 12,396 individuals were screened for cataract through screening camps; 4405 patients were identified with cataract and 2868 elderly underwent successful cataract removal surgery and intra ocluar implant, restoring their eye sight. a) Number of people with Visual Acuity > 6/18 (uncorrected) 83% (that includes V/A which is less than i.e. 6/9, 6/12, 6/6) b) Number of people with V/A < 6/18 (uncorrected) 17% Nos (that includes V/A which is more than 6/18 .i.e.6/18, 6/24, 6/36, 6/60, HM, CFC) e. About the Beneficiary Who are the beneficiaries The beneficiaries are primarily senior citizens, who have no significant means of support, i.e. from the low socio-economic strata of society. How were the beneficiaries identified? Project intervention locations are identified at the planning phase, giving significant importance to vulnerable population. Announcements are made in the community and pamphlets are distributed to inform the population of the activities and services provided. Post identification of the cataract an elderly would undergo a counselling session to assess his/her financial capacity to afford cataract surgery. Once its established that the person has no significant means to support themselves, the patients is provided free services under the project. Socio economic background of the beneficiaries (BPL/APL, rural/urban) The beneficiaries are needy elderly from both BPL and APL categories from rural and urban locations, who cannot afford or access quality eye care services. Why do these beneficiaries need the support? Due to poor literacy, low socio-economic status and older persons are not able to get timely treatment for cataract. In most cases tertiary eye care facility available are at least more than 50-100 km away and costly. Even in the government health facilities in the vicinity do not have proper infrastructure to cater the requirements of a tertiary eye care facility. Coupled with migration of the young from the community, the elderly are depended on the program to first screen their eye near their homes (screening camps) and then be transported via the hospital vehicle and reach the tertiary hospital for surgery and care.


Challenges faced and next steps

Impaired Vision can bring about a loss of dependence; feeling of inadequacy, social isolation can arise from mobility restrictions, embarrassment about vision loss. The project addressed the eye health problems of the elderly thereby restoring their self-confidence and dignity. Due to poor literacy, low socio-economic status and older persons are not able to get timely treatment for cataract. In most cases tertiary eye care facility available are at least more than 50-100 km away and costly. Even in the government health facilities in the vicinity do not have proper infrastructure to cater the requirements of a tertiary eye care facility. Coupled with migration of the young from the community, the elderly are depended on the program to first screen their eye near their homes (screening camps) and then be transported via the hospital vehicle and reach the tertiary hospital for surgery and care.


Stories from the ground

Name of the Beneficiary: Mr. Buddi Jadon Age: 60 Location: Devpura Village, Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh Background Story: Mr. Buddi Jadon 60-year-old male resides in Devpura village Mathura District. He had lost his son who was the bread winner of the family in the third covid pandemic wave earlier this year. At the age of 60 Mr. Jadon has to work along with his daughter in law to support the family. He was complaining of gradual loss of vision which directly affected his daily earnings. His daughter in law brought him to Bhaktivedanta Eye Hospital for the camp where he was evaluated and found to have cataract in the right eye. Support given: He underwent cataract removal and intra ocular lens implant in the Right Eye on 28th February, 2022 free of cost. Progress: Post-surgery Mr. Buddi Jadon has made a full recovery and is able to assist his family in earning a living. With the intervention of HelpAge India?s project and valuable funds donated by Give India we were able to save a man?s vision and subsequently restore his vision without which he would have been left without the opportunity to support his family and widowed daughter in-law and his eyesight. This is an example of how projects like these have an enormous impact on the socio-economic status of people in rural areas who do not have the awareness of lack the help/facilities to reach out to in times of need.


1 June, 2022

Vision Restoration by Cataract Surgery with Intra Ocular Implant

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Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months

Village Name/ City Name: Visakhapatnam Block/ Tehsil: Visakhapatnam District: Visakhapatnam State: Andhra Pradesh

Village Name/ City Name: Ramanathpuram Block/ Tehsil : Mandapam, Valanhtaravia, Pramakudi, Rajapalayam, Utchipuli, Chatrapatti, Aruppukottai District: Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar Districts State: Tamil Nadu

Village Name/ City Name : Sangadi, Jogisakhara, Potgaon , Boddha, Chop, Bhendala, Ashte, Sutare, Nagsar Block/ Tehsil : Nadurbar, Navapur, Sahahda, Sakri and Shirpur in Nandurbar District District: Nandurbar District, Gadchiroli District and Bhandara District State: Maharashtra

a) Sensitization of the community through handbills and announcements prior to the eye screening camp. b) Free eye-screening clinics and the identification of elderly cataract patients c) Patient Pre-Surgery Counseling d) Free transportation to the base hospital for cataract patients (Pick-up and Drop). e) Surgeries and post-operative care; free hospitalisation and food for patients. f) One week of black glasses and medicine. g) Seven-day and four-week post-surgery check-ups at the vision centre. The main objective of the project, to reduce avoidable blindness in the selected locations, was achieved by providing accessible, quality eye care.  A total of 2497 individuals have been screened for cataracts through screening camps and hospital vision centers; 1456 patients were identified with cataracts, and 850 elderly people underwent successful cataract-removal surgery and intra-ocular implants, restoring their eyesight. Impaired vision can bring about a loss of independence, a feeling of inadequacy, and social isolation can arise from mobility restrictions and embarrassment about vision loss. Cataract surgery can greatly enhance the quality of life of patients. The project not only addressed the issues of visual impairment and avoidable blindness but also the psychosocial health of patients. Timely treatment has prevented the deterioration in the quality of life of patients. The project has restored the confidence and dignity of the elderly. Impact: Impaired Vision loss can bring about a loss of independence, a feeling of inadequacy, and social isolation can arise from mobility restrictions and embarrassment about vision loss. The project addressed the eye health problems of the elderly, thereby restoring their self-confidence and dignity. 


Challenges faced and next steps

The project spilt over into the financial year 2021–2022 due to the 2nd COVID-19 wave. This was as per the government directive to cope with the highly infectious delta variant. All activities under the project were halted and resumed only in July 2021. Through these outreach programmes and free eye screening camps, the community has been sensitised to various eye diseases that, in most cases, are curable. Through this intervention, the community has been encouraged to seek better eye health and access the nearest government eye care facility. In most cases, and wherever possible, the beneficiaries are linked to HelpAge India’s Mobile Health Unit and, through them, are enrolled in various government health, financial, and livelihood schemes for the elderly. 


Stories from the ground

Name of the Beneficiary: M. LakshmiAge: 75 Location: 4/34, North Street, Naranapuram, Sathur (Tk), Virudhunagar District. Background Story: I reside in Naranapuram Village in Virudhunagar District and had some agricultural land where my husband was doing farming activities. After his demise, both my sons got married and they moved out of the village, so I am living alone. I work as a helper in the local temple and, with the meagre income, take care of my expenses. I have had blurred vision for more than one year. But no one was there to take me to the hospital for testing. In July 2021, I heard the auto announcement informing me about the proposed eye camp at Othayal and attended the camp on August 1, 2021. Support given: I was informed about the cataract in my eye and the need to undergo surgery. After I agreed, the hospital staff brought me to Madurai the same day, and after conducting tests, they performed the surgery the next day. Progress: I am now able to see clearly and concentrate on my work both at home and at the temple. Thanks to HelpAge India and Govel Trust for the support.

Name of the Beneficiary: Mr Kuchipudi Gopi. Age: 75  Location: Sakhinetipalli Lanka, Ravu Daggara, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh-533251 Background Story: Mr Kuchipudi Gopi earns his living by collecting coconuts for the owner of the coconut farm in East Godavari. He is unmarried and lives alone. The only known associate of Mr Gopi is Mr P. Bharat, who is his nephew and helps him out in case of any need. But with the ageing of Mr Gopi, he didn't know why his vision was slowly getting reduced in his right eye, affecting his ability to do his job. The lack of proper vision was putting him at risk of being fired from the coconut farm and leaving him jobless, which would have been a very difficult situation as he would have lost his means of income in addition to his vision, rendering him helpless. Fortunately, his nephew identified his problem and reached out to the Visakha Eye Hospital Trust, Vishakapatnam, through HelpAge India’s intervention.  Mr Kuchipudi Gopi was diagnosed with a mature cataract in his right eye and successfully operated using phacoemulsification with rigid IOL implantation. Progress: After the 15-day follow-up, the patient recovered very well and the vision in his eye was restored. He has now gone back to living his normal life of cutting down coconuts on coconut trees and does not need to leave his job due to vision impairment. With the intervention of HelpAge India’s project and valuable funds donated by Give India, we were able to save a man’s vision and subsequently restore his vision, without which he would have been left without a job and his eyes. This is an example of how projects like these have an enormous impact on the socio-economic status of people in rural areas who do not have help or facilities to reach out to in times of need.


22 July, 2019

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Program Update


25,000 cataract surgeries conducted with IOL implant from October to March, 2019, restoring their vision, self-confidence and dignity, thereby improving the person’s productivity and quality of life. HI also conducted supported patients with refraction correction and distributed, high quality refractive glasses to more than 7000 individuals.
All the program beneficiaries received free of cost services and with 0% complications or vision loss. The program has been appreciated by the community and we were requested to continue the interventions. With the objective of providing comprehensive vision correction to the neediest people across the country, HelpAge India has initiated the Refractive Error Correction Project. Methodology: Two way strategy has been adopted



  1.        Screening of older people for refractive error through hospital partners and providing corrective glasses


  2.        Screening at MHU (HI-Mobile Health Units) sites with support of local hospital/ Optometrist and providing corrective glasses.



Story from the field


Mr. Md. Mamtaj a migrant from Bihar who came along with his father and mother in search of livelihood to Banarhat. Banarhat which is surrounded by Tea Gardens, his father had started small tea shop, business as the Tea gardens during his father’s time was doing very well and people of the gardens used to visit the shop, but over the time the Tea Garden in that belts collapsed many were shut down, and now few are running, and that’s how Mamtaj fathers business too collapsed. Mamtaj’s parents are no more and now he has to look after 6 members in his family, he has 4 son’s one daughter and wife. Mamtaj was expressing his hard times due to the shutdown of Tea Gardens he was recalling how well their life was once upon when the factory was functioning which were golden days according to Mamtaj. When we asked Mamtaj what he was doing for his living he said having tears in his eyes “that I pull Rickshaw all day to keep up the family”.Mamtaj has to pull Rickshaw hard all day long to earn more money, sometimes he get to earn Rs.200 and sometimes very less than that which is not at all sufficient to take care of his family. Off late Md. Mamtaj was feeling uneasy with his eye. For few weeks he Didn’t bother, but later he felt he needed to go for check up. So Mamtaj one fine day while pulling his Rickshaw he heard an eye camp happening at nearby garden by Banarhat vision centre and Mamtaj felt that the opportunity to be taken, he checked his eye and he was told that he has cataract (Motiabin )in his eyes. He was counseled and given date by the Banarhat vision centre. He was admitted on 26/02/2019 at Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital for RE Cataract Surgery His earlier vision was 6/24p after operation his visual acuity is 6/18 and Pinhole 6/12. He is very thankful when we said about the HI-DEUTSCHE BANK. “He says: It’s hard to believe still there are people who care for the needy, who are not able to afford by themselves”.


What is the expected total number of beneficiaries in this program for FY18-19?32775
What is the number of beneficiaries/ benefits provided in this program, Year-To-Date32775
Village/City/State where project is locatedAndhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi & NCR, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal
Total Budget for the project for FY18-1974200000
Total Expenses for the project YTD74200000

23 May, 2019

#1

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Program Update


Till December, 2018 HI has run up to 55 project in 15 states across the country with the support of 40 charitable partner eye hospitals covering over 195 districts. During the first three quarters, the program has reached out to more than 55,000 people through over 560 camps organized in some of the neediest locations across the country. 10,629 cataract patients underwent surgeries with IOL implant, restoring their vision, self-confidence and dignity, thereby improving the person’s productivity and quality of life. HI also conducted supported patients with refraction correction and distributed, high quality refractive glasses to more than 3800 individuals. All the program beneficiaries received free of cost services and with 0% complications or vision loss. The program has been appreciated by the community and we were requested to continue the interventions.


Story from the field


Mokkala Pochamma, 65 years, suffered from cataract in both her eyes. She lost her Son recently and her Husband is bedridden. She is the sole bread winner for her family. She makes a living by selling flowers on the streets and lives in a small rented house in the slum. She noticed that her vision was deteriorating when she couldn’t thread the needle while assembling the flowers. This affected her life and work, as she couldn’t do her daily chores at home or manage her small-scale business. She learned of the free eye camp conducted with the support of Deutsche Bank by HelpAge India with in her locality, Bhoiguda. At the camp, she was diagnosed with cataract and taken to the base hospital for treatment. Post-surgery, Pochamma is back at work, doing quite well in her flower selling business and making a living for her family again, thanks to the support of HelpAge India in restoring her vision! With better vision and her new-found confidence Pochamma’s quality of life has improved very much.


What is the number of beneficiaries/ benefits provided in this program, Year-To-Date10000
Village/City/State where project is locatedPan India
Total Budget for the project for FY18-19INR 100,000,000
Total Expenses for the project YTDINR 25,000,000

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