Page 25 - The Indian EYE 121925

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline DECEMBER 19, 2025 | The Indian Eye 25

Eye Foundation of America

commits USD 1 million to launch

India’s National ROP programme

Lord Rami Ranger Dr. V.K. Raju Dr. Sam Maddula Dr. Leela V. Raju

OUR BUREAU ty to protect the most vulnerable. EFA also announced that Dr. health experts.
“The work of the Eye Founda- Sam Maddula, a board member and EFA president Dr. Leela V. Raju
Morgantown, WV / New Delhi / London tion of America represents humanity philanthropist, will be a major donor said the programme is designed as a
at its best — serving the most vul- supporting the National ROP Pro- scalable national model.
he Eye Foundation of America nerable and giving the gift of sight to gramme. “Our USD 1 million commit-
(EFA) has committed USD 1 children who deserve every oppor- “Every child deserves the gift of ment is a call to action to protect the
Tmillion to initiate India’s Na- tunity in life,” he said. “By bringing sight,” Dr. Maddula said. “Support- most vulnerable infants,” she said.
tional Retinopathy of Prematurity together global partners, we are not ing this national ROP initiative is a “With support from Lions Interna-
(ROP) Programme, a nationwide just treating a condition; we are cre- pledge to India’s future. When EFA, tional, Rotary International, and
effort aimed at preventing avoidable ating hope for generations to come.” Lions, and Rotary unite, we create global partners, we are building a na-
childhood blindness among prema- a transformative force for children, tional framework to eliminate child-
ture infants. The idea of a world without families, and communities.” hood blindness caused by ROP.”
The initiative, which EFA de- The January 31, 2026 event in Founded in 1977, the Eye Foun-
scribes as a major step toward elim- childhood blindness traces London is expected to bring together dation of America works to eliminate
inating ROP-related blindness in back to January 31, 1977, representatives from Lions Interna- avoidable blindness and expand ac-
India, is expected to be rolled out in tional and its foundation LCIF, Ro- cess to equitable eye care. According
partnership with Lions International when Dr. V.K. Raju conducted tary International, Commonwealth to the organisation, its programmes
and Rotary International. Discus- his first eye camp in Vijayawa- leaders, United Nations–aligned and partnerships have impacted
sions with both global service organ- health and education bodies, phil- more than three million people
isations are at an advanced stage, da, India. Over the decades, anthropic foundations, corporate so- worldwide through clinical services,
officials said. that effort has expanded into cial responsibility partners, and child training, and public health initiatives.
The programme will be formally
announced on January 31, 2026 — a global movement focused on
observed globally as the Internation- preventable blindness and ac-
al Day for a World Without Child-
hood Blindness — at an event to be cess to eye care.
held at the Parliament of the United
Kingdom in London. Dr. Raju said the National ROP
EFA said Lord Rami Ranger, its Programme marks a defining mo-
patron, will chair the 2026 commem- ment in that journey.
oration at the House of Lords, while “What began as one eye camp in
Dr. V.K. Raju, founder-president of 1977 has become a global mission of
the Eye Foundation of America, will compassion and service,” he said. “Our
serve as co-chair. USD 1 million commitment, and our
In a statement, Lord Rami collaboration with Lions and Rotary,
Ranger said the initiative reflects a marks a defining milestone in pro-
collective humanitarian responsibili- tecting the sight of India’s newborns.”

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