Telangana all set to launch Kanti Velugu on August 15

​Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao will formally launch ‘Kanti Velugu’ (free eye screening test) programme on August 15 from Malkapur village in Medak district. Public representatives have been asked to launch the programme in their respective constituencies simultaneously and participate in the programme.

The Chief Minister reviewed the arrangements made for the launch of the programme with Health Minister C Laxma Reddy and officials of the Health Department on Monday at Pragathi Bhavan. Kanti Velugu is aimed at conducting eye screening and vision test for all citizens in the State and wherever necessary spectacles will be provided free of cost. For all those who require, arrangements will be made for provision of medicines and surgeries and other treatments free of cost. People will also be educated on prevention of serious disabling eye diseases. 

Officials briefed Chandrashekar Rao about the step by step arrangements made and the precautions they have taken so that everyone in the State is covered by the programme. In all 812 teams are deployed for conducting the eye camps covering all 12,751 village panchayaths, village after village. Each camp team will have a medical officer, an optometrist and 6-8 support staff like ANMs, supervisors, and ASHAs. 

Each team will be given a fulltime vehicle. About 250 persons in rural areas and about 300 persons in urban areas are expected to be screened in a day in one camp of which about 40 per cent may be requiring treatment. Each district will have a buffer team of 2-4 medical officers and optometrists to be used in case of emergency.

The Chief Minister suggested that the team should work from Monday to Friday and take Saturday and Sunday as off days to continue working efficiently. The Chief Minister also recommended the officers concerned that private, government and NGO hospitals are to be identified for follow-up of secondary and tertiary care.