Kathmandu, 5 February: The Duchess of Sussex, Duchess of Sussex, of the United Kingdom, who is on a visit to Nepal, today visited the Kirtipur Eye Hospital in Kirtipur and met with the services being provided by the hospital and the service recipients.
The hospital, run by the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, started its services in 2074 BS. The hospital has been operating free cataract surgery camps in remote high-hilly areas of Nepal with the support of the UK’s development partner organization ‘Ridley Eye Foundation’.
Princess Sophie is a Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). She is active in the campaign to eliminate treatable blindness worldwide and has been working globally to develop and expand the field of eye health. IAPB is the umbrella organization for organizations working in the field of eye health worldwide.
On the occasion, Her Royal Highness Princess Sophie highly appreciated the progress made in Nepal’s eye health sector and suggested that Nepal should further strengthen eye care services in its primary health system in the coming days.
Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh is providing eye treatment services in Nepal through its network and thousands of eye patients are receiving free eye treatment through the association’s network every year. The association’s chairman, Prof. Dr. Chetraj Pant, informed that Princess Sophie was also very impressed by the information that Nepal has succeeded in eradicating trachoma, a public health problem. Chairman, Prof. Dr. Pant, expressed gratitude for Princess Sophie’s visit to Kirtipur Eye Hospital during her visit to Nepal.
On the occasion, the General Secretary of the Association, Bharat Bahadur Chand, Executive Director Dr. Shailesh Kumar Mishra, Chair of the Kirtipur Eye Hospital Management Committee, Prof. Dr. Sabina Shrestha, and Medical Director Dr. Eric Baidya informed Her Royal Highness Princess Sophie about the services of the hospital.
The association has established its permanent eye treatment centers in 67 districts of Nepal. Since its establishment, the association has provided treatment services to a total of 43.626 eye patients, including Nepali citizens and citizens of various other countries, through its network, and 5.133 million 659 eye surgeries have been performed. Currently, 28 eye hospitals, 160 eye treatment centers and 44 district branches are operating under the association across the country.
The United Kingdom’s Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Princess Sophie, Duchess of Cambridge, visited Nepal on Tuesday.
