Japan extends Rs 58 lakh assistance for blindness prevention

Japan has extended a grant assistance of over Rs 58 lakh to a Gujarat-based NGO, which said it would utilise the money for the treatment of tribals and in purchase of medical equipments.
The project initiated by Ophthalmic Mission Trust has got the assistance of USD 114,452 (around Rs 8,45,100).
The project is titled as 'The Project for Refurbishing the Medical Van and Setting up the Medical Equipment for Preventing Blindness caused by Diabetic Retinopathy in Dahod and the Peripheral Districts'.
The grant contract in this regard was signed between Masaharu Shimizu, Acting Consul General, Consulate General of Japan, Mumbai and Dr Shreya Shah, Administrative Director, Ophthalmic Mission Trust recently, a release said.

Since 1999, Ophthalmic Mission Trust has been generating awareness to eliminate avoidable blindness in the tribal area of Dahod and offering eye health care in treating problems related to cataract, pediatric ophthalmology, retina, glaucoma and low vision at its base hospital.
The Trust is also engaged in rural eye health care through mobile camps and mobile ophthalmic units.

With this grant assistance from the Government of Japan, the organisation proposes to purchase medical equipments and refurbish medical van for screening and treatment of diabetic retinopathy, it said.
Since 1991, the Consulate General of Japan, Mumbai has sanctioned 85 projects under the 'Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects' (GGP) Scheme in five states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Goa.

During the Financial Year 2011-12, the Consulate General of Japan provided grant assistance to the tune of USD 532,714 to five different projects under its jurisdiction, it said.
The Government of Japan has extended this grant under 'Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects' (GGP) scheme as a part of the Official Development Assistance (ODA).
GGP scheme provides flexible and timely assistance to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) as well as non profit organisations. Its main scope encompasses primary health care, primary education, poverty alleviation, environment conservation, public welfare and empowerment of women.