29,300 await surgeries under Kanti Velugu in Palamuru

Mahbubnagar: Kanti Velugu, the most prestigious and widely-publicised healthcare scheme of the State government, though had a good take-off in Mahbubnagar and Narayanpet districts with more than 6.41 lakh people getting tested for eye-related problems, had come to a grinding halt after the State government issued an interim order to stop conducting surgeries for those who were identified with serious eye-related ailments. This has not gone down well the public as more than 29,300 patients with serious eye ailments making rounds to government hospitals to know when they would be called for eye operations.

It may be recalled that the government, as part of the programme, had provided free eye checkups to 6.41 lakh people in Narayanpet and Mahbubnagar districts and distributed spectacles to about 56,295 people who were diagnosed with serious eye problems.

The Kanti Velugu programme, that was conducted from November 2018 till February 2019, was systematically planned and with the coordination of Asha workers, ANMs, Anganwadi workers, doctors and health supervisors, the eye check-ups were carried out successfully.

While everything was going well, the conclusion of Kanti Velugu programme in an abrupt manner without carrying out surgeries on more than 29,300 patients with serious eye ailments has not gone down well with the public. "I was diagnosed for an eye surgery. However, when I approached the government hospital in Mahbubnagar, they said that I would be intimated later as the government had stopped conducting surgeries due to elections," said Ghamli Bai of Vollur village in Jadcherla mandal.

Around 6,000 people who were diagnosed with eye problems are yet to receive spectacles in both Narayanpet and Mahbubangar districts.

District Health and Medical Officer (DMHO) of Mahbubnagar Dr Rajani said that so far they have completed eye operations and other eye-related surgeries to more than 1,000 candidates and there were still 29,300 people awaiting the treatment. "The government has issued orders to halt the eye surgeries until further orders. Once the government directs us to conduct the surgeries, we will take up the pending operations. The distribution of spectacles would also be done in a phased manner," said Dr Rajani.