Kakinada Eye Clinic in India
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Dr. Kjell Dahlen, M.D., working with patients at the Kakinada Eye Clinic in India.
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Rotary is an international movement and the Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club lives that to the utmost through its support of the Kakinada Eye Clinic in India. The lack of readily available eye care coupled with the prevalence of vision problems caused by cataracts results in a true health-care crisis in India. Led by Sunrise Rotary member Kjell Dahlen, M.D., a Plattsburgh ophthalmologist, the club has adopted the Kakinada Eye Clinic as its special project. A long-term commitment of local funds coupled with the securing of grants from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International helps thousands of residents in the Kakinada restore their vision.
The project started about 10 years on the east coast of India, on the Bay of Bengal. The objective is to help cure blindness caused by cataracts, which are the result of Vitamin A deficiency and intense sunlight without protection. There are about 3 million people in this rural area where a farm laborer makes $1–$2 a day and $40 average weekly wage for the local Eye Hospital medical staff. Most people in this rural area don't have access to eye care and operations as they do in the metropolitan areas of India. It's hard to get ahead of the blindness, as there is a net gain of 2.5 million cataract cases each year. Krikiran Institute of Opthamalogy was established by a Rotarian and is where Kjell works when he is there, mostly teaching and rotating throughout the clinic. So far, Rotary has contributed $274,000 to this project. The clinic has reached the 100,000th cataract operation this month!
It's truly a heartwarming success story with no payback other than the recognition that because of our efforts people are able to see again. That is a more than ample reward for our members, all of whom contribute through a variety of efforts. Restricted donations to support the Eye Clinic are welcomed at any time from any interested party.
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