MIAO, 8 Jul: Miao-Khagam Block in Changlang district was officially declared Cataract Blindness Backlog Free (CBBF) during a ceremony held at the Sports Academy here on Wednesday.
The programme was organised by the Arunachal Pradesh State Health Society (NPCB-VI) and the Changlang District Health Society in collaboration with the district administration and Operation Eyesight Universal (OEU).
Announcing the declaration, MLA and health minister’s advisor Dr. Mohesh Chai congratulated the health department, the district administration, OEU, and frontline health workers for their efforts in making Miao-Khagam a Cataract Blindness Backlog Free block. He also lauded the dedication of ASHAs, ASHA facilitators, ophthalmic surgeons, and field staff who worked to identify, motivate, and facilitate cataract patients for surgery.
Emphasising that vision is fundamental to health, dignity, and socio-economic well-being, Dr. Chai urged stakeholders to sustain the achievement by ensuring the timely identification and treatment of cataract cases, strengthening community awareness, and extending quality eye care services across the state. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating avoidable blindness and improving healthcare delivery.
State programme officer (NPCB-VI) Dr. Taba Khanna highlighted the systematic implementation of the CBBF campaign, from meticulous planning and community mobilisation to its successful multi-tiered execution. Through a presentation, he outlined the programme’s achievements and underscored the importance of good vision for overall health and productivity. He said Miao-Khagam is the first block to be declared CBBF, with the milestone achieved solely through the government sector.
OEU programme director Amaresh Pandey expressed gratitude to the Arunachal Pradesh government for its continued trust and partnership. He reaffirmed OEU’s commitment to supporting the state in strengthening eye care services and eliminating avoidable blindness.
District medical officer Dr. N. Lowang commended the collective efforts of all stakeholders in achieving CBBF status for Miao-Khagam Block. District reproductive and child health officer Dr. Taimik Khimhun reaffirmed the department’s commitment to sustaining the achievement and further strengthening comprehensive eye care services across Changlang district.
Certificates of Appreciation and medals were presented to ophthalmic surgeons, health personnel, ASHAs, and ASHA facilitators in recognition of their contributions to achieving CBBF status in Miao-Khagam Block.
Dr. N. Lowang was also felicitated with a Certificate of Appreciation by Dr. Chai for spearheading the campaign, ensuring the effective implementation of programme activities, and mobilising the district health machinery to achieve the public health milestone.
