In the coming days, a detailed schedule, protocols, framework, and guidelines for the camps will be developed.
The second phase of the State government’s flagship Kanti Velugu initiative, which will be launched on January 18, will include mass eye screening camps in all villages, Gram Panchayats, and Municipal Wards.
Preparatory meetings for the eye camps, which will be led by public representatives, will conclude on January 12. A detailed schedule, protocols, framework, and guidelines for the camps will be developed in the coming days.
In a review meeting with Ministers G Jagadish Reddy, T. Srinivas Yadav, and Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, Health Secretary S A M Rizvi, senior health officials, and MLCs and MLAs from districts on Tuesday, T Harish Rao said the second phase of Kanti Velugu was being planned on a larger scale.
While the first phase lasted eight months and involved 827 health teams, the second phase will last 100 working days and involve 1500 medical teams. The Kanti Velugu camps will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and each camp will be led by a Medical Officer, with eight other healthcare workers manning the counters, including one optometrist, two ANMs, three ASHA workers, and one DEO.
The 55 lakh free spectacles will consist of 30 lakh reading glasses and 25 lakh prescription glasses. Attempts were being made to send ready-to-use spectacles to the districts prior to the start of the camps. Specific prescription glasses, on the other hand, will be delivered within a month.
In addition to 850 Auto Refractor (AR) machines, 1500 torches and 1800 distance vision charts will be used. There will be no shortage of healthcare workers for the second phase of Kanti Velugu, with nearly 1500 optometrists, 1500 data entry operators, and 969 PHCs doctors available.