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The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed interest in Karnataka’s 'Asha Kirana' initiative, which provides doorstep eye care, and plans to share its success story with other countries and regions.
The WHO has proposed a comprehensive assessment of the initiative to further strengthen the programme and generate valuable insights and best practices for other regions aiming to implement integrated, people-centred eye care.
In a letter to Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, WHO Representative to India, Dr Roderico H Ofrin, appreciated the state government for conceptualising and effectively implementing the 'Asha Kirana' initiative.
"This innovative model, launched under your leadership, marks significant progress towards eliminating avoidable blindness and ensuring equitable access to comprehensive eye care across the state. We are particularly encouraged by how 'Asha Kirana' aligns with the WHO’s Integrated People-Centred Eye Care (IPEC) framework," Ofrin wrote in the letter dated June 30.
Recognising its impact and scalability, the WHO expressed keen interest in systematically documenting the state’s model.
Such an evaluation, Ofrin noted, will help strengthen the programme while providing lessons and best practices for other regions and countries.
WHO has requested the nomination of a nodal officer to coordinate the process.