A Path to Ending Needless Suffering
Picture a world where blindness doesn’t define destiny – a familiar world to those living outside of the developing world. A world where a quick, $50 procedure can resurrect sight and free families from the shackles of poverty. It’s a world millions should know, but sadly, it remains a distant dream for far too many trapped in avoidable blindness.
Cataracts: A Global Crisis Unveiled
Cataracts, responsible for robbing 50% of the world’s 40 million blind of their vision, are not just an eye ailment; they’re a silent epidemic. A minor, routine procedure in the UK and US, is a life-changing surgery for those in countries like Nepal.
Their impact is harshest in the developing world, where they ruthlessly prey on vulnerable communities. Shockingly, a staggering 90% of cataract cases reside in these regions, where the trifecta of financial hardship, healthcare inaccessibility, and abysmal awareness conspire to perpetuate needless suffering.
Gender Disparity Exposed
On August 7th and 8th, 2023, in partnership with Birgunj Community Eye Centre, the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation launched screening camps in Parsa District. Out of 446 screened, a staggering 60% were women. When asked why they hadn’t sought eye care, most women believed they didn’t need it, while others struggled to find someone to accompany them to the hospital.
The consequences of visual impairment are profound. Consider a patient from Parsa, who could barely discern hand movements and had only a faint glimmer of light. Her grandson was her guiding light in a world darkened by cataracts.
The Grim Grip of Poverty
The cost of surgery stands as the mightiest barrier to cataract treatment, despite its affordability at just $50 per eye. Worse yet, cataract blindness often plunges already destitute families further into the abyss of poverty, creating an unending cycle of misery.
The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation sees this dire connection between poverty and needless blindness and commits to directly advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating poverty. With a mere $50 and a seven-minute surgery, they pluck families from the abyss of extreme poverty.
A Glimpse of Hope: Transforming Lives
During the Parsa District screenings on August 7th and 8th, the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation identified 53 individuals trapped in needless blindness. These fortunate souls were offered free surgery, a lifeline to a brighter future. On August 9th, sixteen underwent cataract surgery, emerging with restored vision and liberated from the socioeconomic burdens of needless blindness.
Cataracts may be the leading cause of avoidable blindness, but they are not invincible. Organisations like the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation are champions of change, waging a relentless war against cataract blindness one surgery at a time. Their work is a testament to the power of compassion, innovation, and unyielding determination in the pursuit of a world where needless blindness is an unthinkable relic of the past. Together, we can unveil the potential of a brighter future for all.
The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation was founded in March 2021 by London philanthropist Tej Kolhi and Kathmandu ‘God of Sight’ Dr Sanduk Ruit. As of November 2022 the NGO had screened 170,022 patients and cured 22,663of blindness at 91 outreach camps in Nepal, Bhutan and Ghana. The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation is a restricted fund operating under the auspices of Prism The Gift Fund, registered UK charity number 1099682. The Foundation targets the #1 United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of reducing poverty by making large-scale surgical interventions to cure blindness at the grassroots in the developing world. All treatments are provided completely free, with 100% of the funding coming from Tej Kohli and the Kohli family.
