Case Finding in the Community: Experience of Jatiya Andha Kallyan Somiti in Comilla, Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh, one of the largest and most densely populated countries of the world, has a population of 130 million, with 80% living in rural areas. The National Blindness Survey, 1999-2000, indicated that the prevalence of blindness in the adult population aged 30 and above is 1.04%, of which more than 85% is due to cataract. Eye care services, either Government or private care, are not available to the people of rural areas due to inequitable distribution of services, physical and geographical inaccessibility and financial limitations. Jatiya Andha Kallyan Somiti, Comilla, Bangladesh has developed comprehensive eye care services with financial and technical assistance from Sight Savers International (SSI) and has been providing the following modules of services, beginning in 1994.Module -1: Hospital SurgeryModule -2: Eye ClinicsModule -3: Under -5 Clinics (1996—2000)Module -4: Community and Patients' Screening Programme ActivitiesModule -5: Community Based Rehabilitation (started in 2000)