Jamshedpur, Nov. 27: Alarmed by number of cataract cases reported during the eye screening in East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan, the Lions International Club have decided to come up with an eye care centre here.

As there is lack of government or private hospitals in the villages or nearby areas in East Singhbhum, the officials of Lions Club International have decided to set up the proposed eye care centre in the city. A collaborative project between the Lions Club International district 322 A and the Lions In Sight team, the eye care centre would be equipped with the latest technology for eye screening tests and surgical instruments.

The service club, which conducted eye screening camps in the four remote villages of Gandedungri, Rajnagar and Nimdih in Seraikela-Kharsawan district and Bhilaipahari in East Singhbhum over the past few days, has seen a large number of people being affected by partial blindness and cataract. Though cataract was found in people above 40 years, partial blindness was seen in young people also. Altogether 342 people have been affected by cataract.

The project “ Give the gift of sight” was undertaken by the Lions’ “In Sight” team comprising a group of expert ophthalmologists from US. The reasons for the high incidence of eye disease were cited as malnutrition, lack of awareness and lack of proper medical facilities in the rural area.

“People are not counselled in these regions and there is a complete lack of healthcare system in the villages. These have led to such disastrous results. The number of acute case are at an all time high,” stated Rajnish Kumar, the zonal chairperson of Lions International of district 322 A.

The screening test was carried out on a massive 1991 people. In some cases the cataract has led to complete loss of vision.