The project will be implemented in Mymensingh and Sherpur, a geographically located in North and North -eastern part of Bangladesh with an area of 4,363.48 sq. Kilometers and 1,363.76 sq. Kilometers respectively Mymensingh and Sherpur. Mymensingh and Sherpur has the highly population density in Bangladesh as well as a high growth rate (1.3%) [(Source: World Bank, World Development Report 2004; World Development Indicator(s)] Its current estimated population is about 6.43 million (UNFPA Bangladesh, Statistical data, 2011). 30+ populations constitute almost 40% of said population. Eye care service need in Mymensingh and Sherpur districts have been estimated based on epidemiological data from above-mentioned national blindness survey of 2001. it is estimated that there would be around 33,000 blind people due to cataracts among the population in the 30 and above age group.
The project “The Future Vision Centre, Bangladesh” will be implemented in the North-Eastern part of Bangladesh, namely the Greater Mymensingh Districts. In rural areas, the project will provide low-cost and affordable eye healthcare to all segments of the population, including the elderly and children, through vision centre (VC).
Dr. K. Zaman BNSB Eye Hospital of the project titled “Comprehensive Cataract Services in Bangladesh”, led by Orbis International from May 2025 to April 2027. We understand the project included a 4-month preparatory phase, a 20-months project implementation phase (October 2025 to April 2027) to accomplish 1 million screenings and 100,000 cataract surgeries, including three follow-ups. However, we also understand that an additional 8 months will be required for post-project follow-up activities as a network partner of Orbis.
The project’s objectives include conducting community outreach and awareness campaigns, identifying and screening potential individuals with cataracts, delivering no-cost cataract surgery services, engaging communities, fostering sustainability, and developing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system aimed at improving vision and overall quality of life.
The project will be implemented in Netrakona District of North-Eastern Bangladesh, and its surrounding areas. In rural areas, the eye health care will provide low-cost and quality eye care to all children, young people, and the elderly, through the eye health clinic. The program will be organized in various districts of the region to provide comprehensive eye care and treatment. Ophthalmologists and MLOP provide a regional platform for eye health education and community outreach.
The project “Comprehensive Eye Care Services In Mymensingh Region” has been drawn up on the basis of the actually felt needs. Due to the prevailing pandemic situation, the organization has been facing serious financial constraints. The project has taken new initiative to setting up a Vision Centre at the community level and a screening and treatment programme for Readymade Garments Workers and their family members. Primary Eye Care Centre (PEC), Poor patients support at the base hospital, Human Resources Development and Raising Public Awareness & Encouraging Social Participation in Blindness Prevention.
Dr. K. Zaman BNSB Eye Hospital has experienced a sharp rise in energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2023, grid electricity usage surged by 40%, while diesel consumption for backup generators increased by 55%. Total Scope-1 and Scope-2 emissions reached approximately 142 tonnes of CO2e annually. Current operations rely heavily on non-renewable sources, leading to high operational costs and a significant carbon footprint.SOLAR FD – 6
This project aims to address the prevalence of visual impairment in five districts (Netrakona and Mymensingh) in Bangladesh. The project emphasizes the impact of poor eye care and barriers to accessing care. In these five districts, the main cause of visual impairment is uncorrected refractive error (URE). URE can affect a child’s education. One means of effectively addressing these challenges is through regular vision screenings and the provision of spectacles when indicated. In five districts, there are significant barriers to accessing quality eye care, including limited awareness of eye health and how to access care, a national shortage of ophthalmologists (only 1,600+ for a population of 180 million, of whom the majority are live in the capital but most of the population live in the rural areas), a lack of eye care at the community level, and the lack of district eye care plans.
