Netrika Eye Care · Outreach Camp
Eye care that comes to your village.
For people who cannot reach a hospital, we bring the hospital’s eye care to them: to villages, slums, schools and community halls across East and West Champaran.
Call about an outreach campHost a camp
Why we go out
880 people per sq km
That is Bihar’s population density, more than double the national average. Bihar is the third most populous state in the country, and that load puts a heavy responsibility on health care.
- Blindness is a big problem hereCurable and avoidable blindness is high in the community.
- The people who need us can’t reach usNetrika’s focus is the rural and urban poor, in slums and among socially and economically marginalised groups, many of whom have no access to eye care.
- So we don’t wait for patients to comeOur founding principle is to take eye care to the doorstep of the patient, instead of waiting for the patient to come to the hospital.
Where our outreach goes
Out of the hospital, into the community
- Villages and slums. General eye camps, where patients with cataract are operated on free of cost.
- Schools. Extensive screening camps for early detection of eye problems in children, with the hope of eliminating childhood myopia.
- Communities and NGOs. Public events with local communities and NGOs, offering free screenings and consultations.
- Workplaces. Corporate awareness sessions on regular check-ups and healthy visual habits, especially for screen-heavy jobs.
- People who need special care. Diabetic eye disease camps and awareness talks, and free screening and treatment for people with ROP from lower strata of society.
How we keep outreach going
Camps only work if they can keep happening. These are the models Netrika uses.
Paying patients help others
A cross-subsidy model, where a portion of paying patients supports care for those who cannot pay.
Vision centres
Small, locally based centres for primary eye care that feed patients to the main hospital in Motihari.
Trained mid-level staff
Routine tasks are delegated to trained mid-level personnel, so scarce ophthalmologists can do what only they can.
High volume, low cost
A hybrid model of high-volume, high-quality, low-cost and no-cost service to stay self-sustaining.
From the field
Photographs from Netrika camps.
A doctor checks a patient’s eye by torchlight.
People wait their turn at a camp.
Patients with protective dark glasses wait together.
Outreach in action
125 patients
Examined free at a school in Ghodasahan
Bhaskar News reported on a free eye screening held at Thakur Ram Mathura Prasad Higher Secondary School in Ghodasahan. It was organised with Kalwar Seva Manch, and a Netrika Eye Care team from Motihari, led by Dr. Kamlesh Kumar, examined the patients.
People came from dozens of villages in Ghodasahan and Banakatwa block, and some travelled from Nepal.
Photograph from the Bhaskar News report on the camp.
After the camp
The care doesn’t stop when the camp ends
People who need more than a check-up are seen at Netrika Eye Care Hospital in Motihari, with all eye OPD and IPD services under one roof.
- Cataract surgery
- With an advanced PHACO machine, for safer removal of cataract.
- Glaucoma and diabetic eye care
- Diagnosis and treatment, including thorough retinopathy check-ups.
- Children’s eye care
- Pediatric ophthalmology and squint therapy.
- General eye care
- Routine exams, dry eyes, infections and spectacles.
What our team takes care of
Getting there, and getting better
- Pick-up and drop from Netrika centres to the nearest local transport
- Accommodation for family members who come with the patient, and a recuperative stay
- Check-ups after treatment, as per the calendar
- Medicines from our in-house pharmacy, and eyewear from our in-house optical store
What it takes
Outreach is hard work, and we don’t do it alone
Running camps for people who cannot pay brings real pressures. We work with partners, community groups and supporters to keep going.
- Long-term financial sustainability
- Keeping skilled staff in rural areas
- Maintaining high-quality service
- Helping patients overcome barriers to care
Host an outreach camp
If you can bring people together, such as a school, a village group, an NGO, a community organisation or an office, we would like to talk. Camp dates are not listed here, so call or write and we will tell you what is planned, or talk through holding one for your community.
Netrika works with community-based organisations and different government departments, and is also happy to receive support from philanthropic organisations, business houses and individuals.
Talk to us
Call +91-9625158220 netrikaeyecare@gmail.comOpp- Rahmania Hospital, Block Road, Bhawanipur Zirat, Motihari, Bihar 845401