RESUMO
PURPOSE: The aim of the eye care project is to clear the backlog of cataract blindness for the people of Gaur and its surrounding districts in southeast Nepal. The purpose of this study is to analyze the progress of this eye care project. METHODS: In mid 1997, the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS), the national society for comprehensive eye care in Nepal, with financial support from the Association for Ophthalmic Cooperation to Asia (AOCA) and the 24 Hour Television (24HTV) Charity Committee established an eye hospital in the district headquarters of Gaur under the name of Narayani Eye Care Project (NECP). The hospital provides surgery, an outpatient department (OPD) and emergency services. We analyzed the number of patients, the number of surgeries and the profile of patients. RESULTS: The hospital was found to be providing services with modern equipment and instruments and the number of patients frequenting it had increased in accordance with the improved services. From mid 1997 until the end of 2002, the hospital provided services to a total of 122,093 patients and performed 6,143 major surgeries and 541 minor surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: It has been possible to conduct sight restorations of poor and blind individuals in this region at the Gaur eye hospital with the support of the NECP.