Saving sight in the Thar Desert

The dire need for eye health services in the impoverished desert region of Rajasthan, India, was exposed in a survey run by one of Sightsavers' local partners in North India, Urmul Seemant Samity.

The aim of the survey was to find all people with disabilities in Bikaner, one of the poorest districts of the Thar Desert, and link them up with appropriate services. Poverty and isolation, combined with extreme climatic conditions, mean that health is not prioritised here, and there is a very high level of blindness.

Over 300 children were identified as having sight problems during the survey of around 200 villages.

In desperate need of help
One of the families we met were the Singhs, who's youngest son Kuldeep had been blind from birth with cataract. Nine-month-old Kuldeep wasn't the only member of the family to be found with sight problems. Four other children including Kuldeep's older sister were also severely visually impaired. "We took them to see the traditional healer, but he couldn't help us," said Hari Singh, head of the household and Kuldeep's grandfather. "We had no choice but to accept the situation."

They were invited to attend a special eye camp where they could be properly assessed. All of the Singh children were identified as having cataract in both eyes. The older ones were taken to hospital in the nearby city of Dahod, and had successful surgery, supported by Sightsavers. However the doctors wanted to wait until Kuldeep was a few months older before they operated on him.

Happily, as you can see from the photo above and in the slideshow below, Kuldeep's cataract operation went well.

After surgery he shows signs that he can see, such as looking at the doctor's torch. "We are all celebrating," says Kuldeep's mother. "Five members of our family have new sight. We'd like Kuldeep to be a doctor when he grows up so that he can help restore vision and bring happiness to others."