Community halls renovated for ‘Kanti Velugu’ camps

Santosh Nagar: The Santosh Nagar area has geared up for the first of its State government-funded Kanti Velugu (free-eye checkup) camp in two of its community halls. The officials are hopeful of reaching the daily target of 300 patients for checkup till the camp continues. 

The renovated location where the camp will be setup appears to welcome the people with new furniture including tables, chairs, desk and other items. With proper seating arrangements for patients, the facility has washrooms and provision of drinking water. Once the camp starts, there will be provision of help desk and registration counter. 

According to officials, the six-month programme will be started in one of the community halls either Owaisi Community Hall or Masqati Community Hall in the locality. After completion of three months, the camp will continue in the second community hall to ensure that two different localities are covered under the scheme. Recently Zonal Commissioner, south, N Ravi Kiran inspected the renovation works. Md Muzaffar Hussain, the area corporator has been regularly overseeing the works. “The patients will be administered by Dr Geeta, a medical officer of Santosh Nagar,” informed Syed Tahseen Hashmi, AE. 

It may be mentioned here that the 'Kanti Velugu' across the State will be launched by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on August 15. The government has decided to conduct free eye check up programme for six- months and distribution of spectacles, besides free distribution of medicine to patients. In every division, two camps of the programme will run under the supervision of area corporator, one after the other (3-months each).   “Experienced doctors from Government hospitals will be available in all camps and the setup will be on par with a regular eye-hospital with all equipment needed”, says G Narsing Rao,Executive Engineer (EE).

For generating awareness, Asha workers will go to each and every house in each locality and will hold small awareness programmes and educate the people about the Kanti Velugu. Later, they will collect the details of the house member and a sticker of the programme will be pasted and then a date will be given to visit nearby camp of Kanti Velugu.

“Patient should visit the camp with Aadhar card and after ‘Eye Screening’ a medical record card will be given and then the patient's treatment will begin. Following a nine-step procedure a spectacle or medication will be provided for free. If the patient has some major problems like a need for lens or a surgery then they will be recommended to govt hospitals, adds Narsing Rao.

BY M M Farooqui