Inauguration of Two New Vision Centers in Rural India--1 Mar 2016

Two New LDSC-Sponsored L.V. Prasad Eye Institute Vision Centers Open in

Sujatha Nagar and Chebrolu, India

On March 1, 2016 the Sujatha Nagar L.V. Prasad Eye Institute Vision Center was inaugurated by LDSC Humanitarian Missionaries Elder and Sister Newton along with the staff of the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute.

People began to assemble early in the day in anticipation of the opening of the new Vision Center.

Elder Newton had the honor of cutting the ribbon to officially open the Vision Center. There were smiles and excitement all around.

Dr. Gurucharan Singh—surgeon at the nearby Nava Bharat Eye Center in Paloncha, Khammam District—officially opened the eye examination section of the Vision Clinic.

A short public meeting, in which the efforts of the partnering organizations and government leaders were recognized, was held under a canopy in front of the new Vision Center.

 Elder Newton had the opportunity to speak briefly about how strong, happy families are the foundation to every community and nation, and to point out how important health is to families everywhere.

Patient number one was an infant brought by her young mother who was concerned about her new baby.

We next visited the Nava Bharat Eye Centre in nearby Paloncha. People from villages, towns and cities near and far were patiently waiting for the eye care they needed in a comfortable and caring environment. Some people are given free services because of their poverty. Others pay what they can. Still others willingly pay for their own eye care or surgery, plus that of another who cannot afford to pay.

The next day, on 2 March 2016, we traveled to Chebrolu to open a new Vision Center there.

The community was waiting with anticipation and excitement for the inauguration of their new Center.

There were more inauguration ribbons to cut…

Outside…

And inside…

Then it was time to see patient number one—

Seven-year-old Baby Kamadula Madhuri. She had waited with great anticipation with her father to find out how her vision could be improved.

There was no room for a public meeting at this location but this opening was well attended by the leader of the Chebrolu Panchayat, the local Chief Inspector of Police and other local doctors who were champions of this project.

Our two dynamic leaders from L.V. Prasad Eye Institute—

(Left) Dr. Srinivas Marmamula, Section Head of the International Centre for Rural Eye Care

(Right) Uday Kumar, Head of Optometry, Gullapalli Pratibha Rao International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care