Standard Chartered to fund Tilganga project

KATHMANDU, Feb 25: Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) has agreed in principle to fund a major expansion project by Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO).

Subject to final contract, the bank has agreed to grant one million dollars to fund the TIO’s project titled ‘Upgrading the facilities at district community eye centres (DCEC) for sustainable eye care in rural and semi-urban districts’ covering the areas Bhaktapur and Nuwakot districts for the period 2014 to 2018. The project aims to reduce avoidable blindness by developing a surgical facility in rural and semi-urban areas, according to a press statement.

The objective of the project is to construct two permanent eye centres in two districts, upgrade Bhaktapur DCEC into secondary level eye centre and upgrade Nuwakot DCEC into a periodic surgical facility. The project also aims to create an awareness of eye care among school teachers through training programme; train 750 primary school teachers on basic eye care; screen school children and supply 3,810 spectacles and provide cataract surgery service to people in need through cross-subsidy model.

Sir Thomas Harris, vice chairman-Asia of Standard Chartered Bank, handed over the letter of intent to this effect to Dr Sanduk Ruit, director of TIO amidst the presence of chief executive officer and senior officials of the bank and TIO today, adds the release.

Sir Harris said, “Standard Chartered is honoured to be associated with Tilganga, a world class facility for dealing with avoidable blindness. This support of one million dollars is a part of the bank’s ‘Seeing is Believing’ programme which has a target of raising $100 million for the prevention of avoidable blindness.”

Source: THT