Biratnagar Eye Hospital's Cross-Country Camp in Bangladesh

Biratnagar Eye Hospital, located in Biratnagar, recently organized an eye camp in Bangladesh following a diplomatic request from the country through Netra Jyoti Samaj. Kumar Prithu, the hospital's manager, stated that their team is currently operating the camp in Bangladesh's Lalmonirhat region. The local government of Bangladesh has agreed to host surgical camps at various sites.

An initial group consisting of five members, including doctors, traveled to Bangladesh for the camp. Another team is scheduled to visit in February-March 2024. According to Prithu, after Netra Jyoti Samaj received a proposal via Nepal's embassy in Bangladesh, an agreement was reached to operate the treatment camp.

Prithu explained that this is Biratnagar Eye Hospital's first camp held in Bangladesh, with the initial phase lasting one week. A second team will arrive in February 2024. The week-long camp's team members include Hospital Manager Kumar Prithu, Ophthalmologist Dr. Pragya Luintel, Outreach Coordinator Mohammad Rafiq, Supervisor Deependra Chaudhary, and Vidyanand Chaudhary, among others.

Founded 17 years ago in Biratnagar's Ranima district, Biratnagar Eye Hospital serves not only Nepalese patients but also those from India and other countries. Last year alone, approximately 600 thousand patients sought treatment at the hospital; about 4 percent were from Bangladesh.

Nearly 42 percent of these patients traveled from India for treatment. The hospital conducted eye examinations for 600 thousand people during that period and successfully performed surgeries on 70 thousand individuals.