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.