Venu Eye Hospital, Ramnagar, Uttarakhand

As part of its efforts to reach comprehensive eye care to the poor and needy in the underserved areas, Venu designed a comprehensive eye care programme for the newly formed state of Uttranchal. The reasons for selecting  Uttarakhand were many, for instance:

• One of the most underserved states with respect to healthcare,
• Availability of eye care services is skeletal and the volume and quality of eye care is much below the national average,
• The terrain is difficult with 11 of the 13 districts being high mountain areas. The climate conditions in most parts is extreme.

In May 2005, Venu started its OPD services in Block Ramnagar, district Nainital, from the Government Hospital, Ramdutt Joshi Civil Hospital. A team comprising an Ophthalmologist and an Optometrist would visit the Hospital once a week and those identified for surgery would be given a date when the Eye Surgeon along with an OT Technician would perform the surgeries. When the number of Patients increased and the waiting list demanded regular services, a team of 1 Ophthalmologist, 2 Optometrists, 1 OT Technician and a driver were stationed locally and daily OPD services began. A periphery was also started, 70 kms from the Ramnagar Centre.

On 23rd November, 2006, Venu shifted to its own hospital building in Ramnagar. This was made possible with the financial support and land given by the Government of  Uttarakhand and Christoffel Blind Mission, who sponsored the construction of the building and equipment.