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West Bengal State Network for Universal Eye Health

Context

VISION 2020: The Right to Sight-INDIA (VISION 2020 INDIA ) is guided by its five-year strategic plans (present plan exists for 2021-2026) and has an oversight by a 17 members Board comprising the government eye care institution, national not-for-profit eye care institutions and International NGOs that meets once a quarter and discusses programmatic aspects for improved eye care in line with its vision and mission and as outlined in the strategic plan.
The present strategic plan (April 2021-March 2026) guides VISION 2020 INDIA to bring together the eye health stakeholders at state level and create an effective platform for strengthening the eye care work in the state. Further, the Plan states that while the policy development largely takes place at national level through National Program for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), the policy implementation takes place at state level and below. The policy implementation requires good coordination, collaboration, policy engagement across the state with the government and non-government partners.
It is in this context, the idea of state level networks is born having a primary objective of ensuring the universal eye health with the key principle of integrated people centred eye care as envisioned in the World Report on Vision (WRV)

Formation of West Bengal State Network for Universal Eye Health

The West Bengal State Universal Eye Health consultation was held on 17 December 2022 in Kolkata. The consultation was jointly held by Sightsavers India and VISION 2020 INDIA. The consultation brought the NGO & Private Sector Eye Care providers in the state together to discuss the areas of mutual cooperation, strategic engagement, institutional productivity, eye health leadership and governance issues in the state, policy engagement priorities and ways to delivering equity & quality in universal eye healthcare. 70 people from 32 eye hospitals from across the State participated.

How would the state eye health network function?

The Terms of Reference for state eye health network was developed. However, it needs a proper structure to operate the ToR in collaboration, coordination, and partnership with state level players including the government. The structure, called as a Core Committee would act a focal point for all the eye care development work representing the civil society in the state.

Core Committee of West Bengal Eye Health Network

An Expression of Interest was sent to all those who attended the consultation held on 17 December 2022. Few institutions came forward to be on the core committee. It is to be noted that institution is the member of the core committee, and not the individual. The core committee meets periodically and discusses programmatic issues.
The core committee was initially set up with 9 institutions on 10 February 2023, Sightsavers India, Kolkata, being the member convener.
The core committee is selected initially for a period of 3 years and later may change as per the need.

West Bengal in the state network

The West Bengal State Network for Universal Eye Health is a collaborative platform established to strengthen partnerships in promoting eye health and vision care in the region. It serves as a common platform for eye health professionals, institutions, experts, government bodies, NGOs, and regional and global agencies and networks. We invite all eye health institutions and private practitioners in West Bengal to join the West Bengal State Network for Universal Eye Health. Membership is presently free and open to individuals and institutions who are passionate about promoting eye health and are committed to working collaboratively to achieve our shared vision. Interested people/institutions may write to wbsehn2022@gmail.com

Meetings of Core Committee

The core committee (pictures) meetings held:
1. 10 February 2023
2. 21 March 2023
3. 12 May 2023