Sightsavers India has announced a groundbreaking achievement in its flagship initiative, the RAAHI National Trucker’s Eye Health Programme, which has successfully conducted 1 million eye screenings. This accomplishment highlights the programme’s substantial impact on enhancing the eye health and road safety of India’s truck and commercial driving community, reaffirming Sightsavers India’s dedication to eradicating avoidable blindness.
RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India, expressed pride in the milestone, stating, “Reaching 1 million eye screenings through the RAAHI Programme is a major step forward in our mission to improve vision and ensure safer roads. This success is the result of years of collaboration and tireless effort.” He added, “Our goal has always been clear: to eliminate avoidable blindness and improve road safety for truckers, and today, we see that vision becoming a reality.”
The RAAHI Programme, launched several years ago, was initially conceived to address the alarming prevalence of vision problems among truck drivers, many of whom suffer from refractive errors. Early studies indicated that nearly 48% of truckers screened had vision impairments, directly jeopardizing road safety. In response, Sightsavers India developed the programme to provide critical eye health services to this vulnerable community.
Operating at 49 locations across the country, including 26 static vision centres, 2 mobile vision centres, and 21 outreach camps along major highways like the Golden Quadrilateral and North-South-East-West Corridor, RAAHI offers comprehensive eye care to truckers and commercial drivers. In addition, the programme has distributed over 400,000 pairs of glasses to those in need.
Innovations Driving Impact
RAAHI stands out not only for its impressive outreach but also for its innovative solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of truck drivers:
Ready-to-Clip (R2C) Glasses: Introduced in 2021, this initiative allows truckers to receive custom-made spectacles immediately, with over 93% of glasses now dispensed on the spot. This innovation removes the need for follow-up visits, offering convenience to truckers who are often on the move.
RAAHI App: Equipped with GIS tracking and real-time data management, the app simplifies the process of registering truckers and distributing spectacles at any RAAHI centre across India, ensuring seamless access for drivers.
Connectivity: Understanding the mobile nature of truck drivers’ work, the RAAHI Programme ensures that truckers can pick up their glasses at any convenient centre along their route, ensuring accessibility even when they are far from their original screening location.
Financial Literacy Initiative: In addition to eye care, Sightsavers India has introduced financial literacy training for truckers, providing essential skills in budgeting, saving, and managing expenses. This initiative helps protect truckers from debt traps, fraud, and enables them to make informed decisions about their finances.
Kajal Khare, the first female truck driver in Chhattisgarh, shared her experience with the programme, “I came across a mobile eye health unit during a trip, and the screening reassured me that my vision was fine. The support from the RAAHI Programme has been invaluable.”
Promoting Safer Roads and Sustainable Development
RAAHI is closely aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which promotes “Good Health and Well-Being,” and the World Health Organization’s road safety mandates. By directly addressing the connection between poor vision and road accidents, RAAHI plays a vital role in reducing fatalities, improving road safety, and contributing to a more efficient logistics sector.
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