In a landmark achievement, Alipurduar district of West Bengal has been declared Cataract Blindness Backlog Free, an accomplishment made possible through the steadfast collaboration of Sightsavers India and the Alipurduar District Health and Family Welfare Department.
This declaration is a landmark in our active contribution towards eliminating avoidable blindness, setting a new benchmark in public health. The event was presided over by the Honourable Additional District Magistrate of Development Alipurduar, Shri Gorai; Chief Medical Officer of Health, Alipurduar, Dr. Sumit Ganguly; District Inspector of School, Shri A Karim; and Mr. RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India.
The district’s blindness prevalence was reduced to less than 0.3% after a four-year journey (2020–2024), involving over 15,000 cataract surgeries, infrastructure improvements, and renovations of the Operation Theatre and Falakata Super Speciality Hospital. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India, said: “This achievement is a shining example of what can be accomplished when a shared vision meets passion and purpose.” The initiative fostered a culture of eye health awareness, empowering communities with knowledge and access to services.