What is the Asha Kirana initiative and its impact?

Asha Kirana is a state health department initiative redesigned to eliminate preventable visual impairment, having screened 1.4 crore people and provided over 29.1 lakh free spectacles since July 2025.

How many cataract surgeries have been performed under Asha Kirana?

As of January 2026, over 4.19 lakh cataract surgeries have been conducted as part of the Asha Kirana program.

Has the Asha Kirana program received international recognition?

Yes, the World Health Organization has commended the Asha Kirana program and expressed interest in its comprehensive eye-care model for potential global replication.

Home / Health / WHO Praises Vision Program Success: Asha Kirana Screens 1.4 Crore

WHO Praises Vision Program Success: Asha Kirana Screens 1.4 Crore

24 Feb

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Summary

Asha Kirana initiative screened 1.4 crore people for eye health.
Over 29.1 lakh individuals received free spectacles.
WHO recognized the program for its comprehensive eye-care model.

WHO Praises Vision Program Success: Asha Kirana Screens 1.4 Crore

The state health department's Asha Kirana program, revamped to eliminate preventable visual impairment, has screened 1.4 crore people since its July 2025 launch. This initiative, now part of the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment, features 393 vision centers offering services like free spectacles and cataract surgeries.

Since its inception, over 29.1 lakh individuals have received free spectacles, and more than 4.19 lakh cataract surgeries have been performed by January 2026. The program targets cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors, major causes of vision loss.

The World Health Organization has recognized Asha Kirana, commending its success and considering its comprehensive eye-care framework for potential replication in other regions and countries.

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