Tangdhar, September 25: Residents of Tangdhar and adjoining areas who underwent cataract surgeries under the Indian Army’s Operation Drishti have expressed gratitude to the Army for bringing specialised eye care closer to the border population.
The two day surgical camp was held on September 24 and 25 at the Underground Forward Surgical Centre of the former 328 Field Hospital in Tangdhar. Around 200 patients were scheduled to undergo cataract surgery during this phase of the wider outreach programme.
Beneficiaries said the initiative saved them from travelling to distant hospitals for treatment and helped reduce the financial burden associated with medical care, transportation and accommodation.
Ghulam Jilani, a resident of Tangdhar, said the patient underwent medical tests before the procedure and was also examined during the post-operative check-up. He expressed gratitude to the Army for providing surgery, medicines, food and transportation support free of cost.
“People in this border area are very grateful to the Indian Army for helping us,” Jilani said, while expressing hope that similar medical camps would continue to be organised in Tangdhar.
Mohammad Maqbool from Dildar village said his wife had been suffering from an eye problem for the past two to three years. He said limited income and the expenses involved in travelling outside the area had made it difficult for the family to seek specialised treatment.
“We are poor people and earning through daily wage work is also difficult here. We are very thankful to the Army for organising this camp and conducting the surgery here,” Maqbool said.
Another beneficiary, Sarwar Mir, said he was satisfied with the treatment and appreciated the medical care provided at the camp. He said undergoing similar treatment at a private facility could have imposed a substantial financial burden on families with limited income.
Patients and their attendants also appreciated the arrangements made at the camp, including medicines, food, tea and transportation assistance. They said the support allowed them to undergo treatment without incurring additional expenses.
The beneficiaries said such initiatives were particularly important for residents of Tangdhar and other remote border villages, where access to specialised healthcare can require long-distance travel.
The Army organised the outreach programme in coordination with Army Hospital, Research and Referral, New Delhi, 92 Base Hospital Srinagar and 328 Field Hospital Tangdhar. A specialised ophthalmology team led by Brigadier Dr Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Head of Ophthalmology at Army Hospital, Research and Referral, New Delhi, conducted the surgeries.
Patients were identified through screening camps held in several areas, including Tangdhar, Uri, Bandipora, Khanabal, Kangan, Dawar and Baramulla. Around 400 patients were shortlisted for cataract surgery under the programme.
The remaining surgeries are scheduled to be conducted at 92 Base Hospital, Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar, during the second phase of the initiative.
The beneficiaries urged the Army to continue organising specialised medical outreach programmes in Tangdhar and other remote areas, saying such initiatives provide much-needed healthcare access to families who face difficulties travelling to major medical centres.
