11-Year-Old Girl Regains Sight After Eight Years

Kalikot. After eight years, 11-year-old Priyanka BK has had the darkness of her suffering removed by regaining her eyesight. There is no limit to the happiness in her family. The extremely poor BK had lost the opportunity to see the light for eight years. She had not even imagined that she would regain her eyesight soon.

Due to an injury (trauma) sustained in childhood, she had completely lost vision in her right eye. Due to her weak economic condition, lack of access to health services, and limited presence of guardians, timely treatment was not possible when she had to rely on others. Her father stays in India for employment, so the family's responsibility was not easy. In such a situation, she was living without hope of treatment.

A free eye camp organized at the District Eye Treatment Center from April 14 to 16 has changed her life. After the successful surgery following her participation in the camp, she has been able to see the bright world again. The happiness and enthusiasm on her face after the surgery had moved everyone present. The free eye surgery camp conducted in Jumla has brought new hope into the lives of many patients like her.

The surgery was performed under the leadership of senior ophthalmologist Dr. Hari Bikram Adhikari. Although the girl's condition was complex, regaining vision after successful surgery is considered a significant achievement from a medical perspective. The girl and her family members have expressed gratitude to all the doctors, health workers, and supporting organizations involved in the treatment.

The camp, organized by the Nepal Netrajyoti Sangh, Kalikot, and financially supported by the Ridley Eye Foundation, was held at the Chandannath Eye Hospital in Jumla.

According to Subash Nepal, head of external programs at Himalaya Eye Hospital, a total of 584 patients' eyes were examined during the three-day camp, and 173 patients underwent free surgery. Necessary medicines were also distributed free of charge through the camp.

According to him, citizens living in remote areas like Karnali are still deprived of basic health services. Especially patients with eye-related diseases are forced to live in pain for years without treatment due to financial constraints, geographical remoteness, and lack of information. Such free camps, by providing services at the village level, are directly benefiting citizens who lack access to treatment.

Nepal Netrajyoti Sangh has been continuously conducting such programs through its network across the country with the main slogan 'Our Duty, Our Responsibility - Partnership in Eye Care'. The camps organized, prioritizing remote and backward areas, have played an important role in preventing blindness and expanding access to quality eye care services.

According to the Sangh, since its establishment until the end of 2025, its network has provided treatment services to a total of five crore two lakh 489 eye patients, including Nepali citizens and citizens of various other countries, and 56 lakh 59 thousand 624 eye surgeries have been completed.