LVPEI and Tech Mahindra Foundation join hands for Community Based Rehabilitation
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR), an initiative of the Vision Rehabilitation Services Centres of LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), provides services and opportunities to the visually impaired and persons with multiple disabilities, building on community initiatives and local resources. Now the Vision Rehabilitation Centres of LV Prasad Eye Institute, together with Tech Mahindra Foundation, have announced their new project – Community Based Rehabilitation in the urban slums of Ranga Reddy District, Hyderabad. Indira Munjuluri, VP and Global Head for Retail, CPG, Transportation and Logistics business, Tech Mahindra, inaugurated the project recently.
The project aims to provide comprehensive rehabilitation intervention in areas of health, education, economic independence, social inclusion and independent skill development to people with blindness, low vision and the multi-handicapped. A team of trained community field workers and rehab professionals including special educator, physiotherapist and speech therapist will provide door-to-door intervention to the needy people. The project will be implemented in the urban slums of Madhapur, Chandanagar, Hafeezpet, Lingampalli, Kukatpalli and Borabanda areas covering a population of 1,50,000.
Speaking on the occasion, VC Kumar, COO, Tech Mahindra Foundation said, “Our association with LVPEI has been rewarding and we are positive that the CBR project will be very successful, given their high levels of commitment, experience and passion in the field of vision rehabilitation. We are glad to be able to contribute our bit to society through this project.”
Dr Gullapalli N Rao, Founder and Chair, LV Prasad Eye Institute said that through this community out-reach project Tech Mahindra Foundation and LVPEI are looking forward for long-term commitment to accomplish collaborative projects for the welfare of the society in eye care and rehabilitation. The CBR program seeks to mobilise disabled people and their families to facilitate their widest possible involvement in mainstream rural and urban development.
Dr Beula Christy, Head, Dr PRK Prasad Centre for Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, L V Prasad Eye Institute, said that through its Rehabilitation Centres, LVPEI has been rendering services to empower people with low vision and blindness so they become important contributing members of the society.
The expected outcome of this project in a period of one year is –
- Vision screening for 1,50,000 households through door-to-door survey
- Provide Rehabilitation intervention to around 800 people with blindness, low vision and additional disabilities
- Conduct events on community awareness programmes
- Formation of around 16 self-help groups
EH News Bureau
