Mission for Vision (MFV) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to eradicating avoidable blindness by enabling high-quality, comprehensive, and equitable eye health care. By harnessing the power of vision to alleviate poverty, MFV strives to create a world free from avoidable blindness.
MFV is committed to contributing to national eye health priorities and achieving global goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
VISION
PHILOSOPHY
To restore the gift of vision to every visually impaired human being, irrespective of nationality, religion, or socio-economic status.
Caring Capitalism®
This is the belief in leveraging business successes for the betterment of humanity and respect for nature.
CONTEXT
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)1 report that 13 million people worldwide suffer from work-related vision impairment, with 3.5 million eye injuries each year. Over 90% of these could be prevented with affordable solutions.
India's labour force participation2 stands at 51.1%, with 44.1% in agriculture, 24.5% in industry, and 31.5% in services. Many outdoor workers are exposed to environmental toxins, impacting their overall health, including their eye health. In Delhi, studies3 found that 44% of auto-rickshaw drivers, as well as many street vendors and sweepers, reported eye redness and irritation.
Alongside focusing on workers' eye health, addressing women's eye health is equally important for promoting gender equity. Despite facing unique challenges and higher risks of certain eye conditions, women's eye health often receives less attention.
These factors highlight the importance of collaboration to improve eye health for both workers and women, aligning with sustainable development goals and national priorities.
Recognising the link between clear vision and productivity, MFV focuses on enhancing eye health, especially for vulnerable and at-risk workers. This report outlines MFV's initiatives in 2023-24, highlighting the connection between vision, employment, and gender equity in the fight against avoidable blindness.
1 ilo.org/publications/eye-health-and-world-work
2 ilostat.ilo.org/data/country-profiles/
3 Barthwal V, Jain S, Babuta A, Jamir C, Sharma AK, Mohan A. Health impact assessment of Delhi's outdoor workers exposed to air pollution and extreme weather events: An integrated epidemiology approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2022; 29:44746–58
Mission for Vision (MFV) and its partners are dedicated to making eye care
ACCESSIBLE
AFFORDABLE
AVAILABLE FOR ALL ACCEPTABLE
By enabling the gift of vision, we also help restore dignity, enhance productivity, and promote a brighter future for individuals, their families, and communities. The impact is manifold by way of improved livelihoods, more vibrant economies, and healthier societies.
MR JM CHANRAI
Founder, Mission for Vision
MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP
To watch the video, please scan he QR code or visit tiny.cc/mfvmsg
We continue to build our efforts to promote gender equity through enhanced efforts to establish better systems to serve girls and women through services, livelihood and empowerment opportunities.
MS ELIZABETH KURIAN Chief Executive Officer, Mission for Vision
IMPACT
BY THE NUMBERS MISSION FOR VISION
FY 2023-24
OVER THE YEARS
7,831 Drivers & Skilled Workers intervened
13 Children intervened
23,979 Drivers & Skilled Workers intervened
24 Children intervened
IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS MISSION FOR VISION
40 New Vision Centres established or strengthened
3,064 Neonates intervened
2,55,827 Surgeries enabled
3,15,479 Children intervened
128 AOPs Trained
180 AOPs In-Training
156 Vision Centres established
7,761 Neonates intervened
3+ mn Surgeries enabled
8,34,529 Children intervened
335 AOPs Trained
402 AOPs In-Training
HIGHLIGHTS & UPDATES
AUGUST 2023
MFV’s Mission Jeevan initiative, dedicated to providing timely screening, counselling, and treatment to children diagnosed with retinoblastoma, has broadened its impact by partnering with Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, Delhi with the generous support of Wen Giving Foundation.
This expansion marks a crucial step forward in our mission to save lives and fostering greater awareness of this critical issue.
Good eye health is essential for children to thrive in school. Through the collaborative efforts of Mission for Vision, Cognizant Foundation, and Little Flower Hospital & Research Centre, the Mission Roshni programme now enables quality eye care to students in Government and Government-aided schools in Ernakulam district of Kerala.
NOVEMBER 2023
MFV initiated a Community Eye Health project in Seppa, East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh in collaboration with the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI). As part of this initiative, MFV along with the government has provided training to 43 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in the field of eye health. Leveraging the strengths and extensive network of ASHAs, this project is helping enable essential eye screenings, identifying underlying eye health issues, facilitating necessary referrals, in addition to medical and surgical treatments for individuals residing in rural and remote regions of the district.
MARCH 2024
In March 2024, Mission for Vision, in partnership MGM Eye Institute, launched its 150th Vision Centre in Shivrinarayan, Chhattisgarh. In line with our commitment towards Integrated peoplecentered eye care (IPEC) making eye health accessible, this milestone aims to provide quality eye care to over 50,000 residents in Janjgir-Champa district. Furthermore, it advances MFV’s efforts to eradicate preventable blindness & paves the path for a brighter future for everyone.
Health was presented to Mission for Vision for its outstanding contributions to vision and eye health. This prestigious accolade stands as a tribute to Jenny Pomeroy, former CEO of Prevent Blindness Georgia (1996-2013), who infused her leadership with a fervent commitment to public health and our collective mission towards prioritising eye health.
WORLD SIGHT DAY 2023
To commemorate World Sight Day, 2023, our mission was to prioritise raising awareness and promoting good eye health at workplaces. As a result of our efforts, we successfully enabled access to quality eye care services for diverse professionals across various regions of the country.
MAHARASHTRA
Housekeeping Staff
Weaving Community Children of the Weaving Community TAMILNADU
Factory Workers
Homeopathy Laboratory Staff
STORIES OF HOPE EMPOWERING THROUGH EQUALITY
In Takdah, Darjeeling, a family of entrepreneurial women run a grocery store, jewellery shop, and restaurant, serving as inspiration for their community. Despite their success, they struggled with access to healthcare, especially eye care. Due to the isolated mountainous terrain, even basic healthcare is barely accessible by the communities of this region, let alone eye care.
This prompted Mission for Vision to collaborate with Wen Giving Foundation and Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital to establish a Vision Centre in this region to enable timely screenings and treatments for the people of Takdah.
While the mother underwent a successful cataract surgery, both daughters were screened and provided spectacles at no cost. With their vision restored, all three women now have clear paths to success, empowerment, and financial stability, greatly enhancing their ability to pursue opportunities, increase productivity, and improve their livelihoods.
STORIES OF HOPE THROUGH NEW LENSES
Anita Bahaduri (name changed), an 11th standard student at Nagrakata Government School in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, received spectacles at no cost through a school screening camp, a collaborative effort by Cognizant Foundation, Mission for Vision, and Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital (SGLEH). Facing financial challenges at home, Anita was relieved and grateful for the support, which has greatly improved her vision for schoolwork and daily activities.
Our eyes deserve attention. Wearing glasses is about clarity & well-being, not shame.
BEYOND THE EYE CHART:
RESEARCH & EVIDENCE
Successful surgery significantly reduced both depressive and generalised anxiety symptoms.
Overall, the positive impact of the surgery is evident in the patients' improved visual acuity and their enhanced capacity to lead independent and productive lives.
BEYOND THE EYE CHART:
Read the detailed report: tiny.cc/mfv_r02
BEYOND THE EYE CHART:
RESEARCH & EVIDENCE
Social-emotional issues among children with
Read the detailed report: tiny.cc/mfv_r03
Mohan (name changed), aged 58, ekes out a living from cotton, rice, and millet farming. Widowed when his children were very young, he chose to raise them alone. A cataract in his eye prevented him from working in the fields, making him dependent on his children who had just started contributing to the farm. This also halted his foraging activities due to poor eyesight, and he struggled to accept the fact that he had become dependent so early in his life.
Mission for Vision, through LV Prasad Eye Institute, reached out and facilitated a cataract surgery for him. With his vision restored, Mohan experienced a significant boost in productivity, mobility, and independence.
He now actively participates in farming activities, increasing the overall yield and efficiency. His improved vision also allows him to move around freely, perform daily tasks without assistance, and he has even resumed with foraging activities.
Overjoyed to be working in the fields again, Mohan now enjoys life to the fullest, grateful for the restored independence and enhanced quality of life.
Thank you to all our partners and donors for your contributions, which have helped Mission for Vision achieve its goals and create a positive impact.
Scan the QR to know more about MFV’s Donors & Partners. You can also visit: bit.ly/4flx4x5
PARTNERS & DONORS TRUSTEES
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our trustees for their unwavering support and trust in our vision.
Mrs. Bharati J. Chanrai
Mr. Gulu C. Waney
Mr. Jagdish M. Chanrai
Dr. Prakash Mirchandani
Mr. Subramonian Sivaramakrishnan
WHOE yes
Now you can check your vision from the comfort of your home with the WHOeyes app. This app replicates the visual acuity assessment typically conducted by eye care professionals using a conventional chart. Its accuracy and usability have been validated in 3 separate research studies.
Suitable for individuals aged 8 and older, WHOeyes checks both near and distance visual acuity. It uses the tumbling E chart with a wide variety of languages and provides educational messages on eye protection.
