MISSION SAKSHAM

MISSION SAKSHAM

A programme for skill-development and training for Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP).

Lack of Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP) in India is hampering delivery of quality eye care services, especially in rural regions of India. The AOP cadre play a critical role in providing primary level eye care; rendering the ophthalmologists and optometrists’ practice more productive; and enhancing the patient eye care standards. The World Health Organization (WHO) Action Plan 2014–2019 emphasizes on the role of allied ophthalmic personnel and has documented their crucial role in the workforce, which is a key component to universal eye care. Through the Mission Saksham programme, we enable training and capacity building for AOP candidates across India. Candidates from social-economically challenged communities are selected for scholarship and first preference is given to female candidates. Alongside the course skills and technical knowledge, the programme also improves the candidates’ soft skills, builds their confidence and empowers them with transferable skills that are useful for their career ahead. Thanks to the unstinted support from Wen Giving Foundation, we have been able to multiply our impact and build the manpower and resources towards delivering comprehensive eye care for all.

230+ ALLIED OPHTHALMIC PERSONNEL TRAINED/IN-TRAINING

(From inception till March 2021)