Pune: The newly installed medical equipment at HV Desai Eye Hospital, which is run by Poona Blind Men’s Association, was inaugurated by Ryoji Noda, the Consul-General of Japan, on behalf of the Government of 
Japan recently.

The financial assistance for the project for the provision of medical equipment for Desai Eye Hospital was provided by Government of Japan under its ‘Grant assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) scheme’. The amount of USD 79,498 was granted to a local NGO, the Poona Blind Men’s Association, on February 6 this year in this regard.

The procured medical equipment will be used for eye examinations and surgeries. The project will help in reducing avoidable blindness and increasing the number of marginalised patients being treated, through the provision of comprehensive and high-quality eye care services, with minimum charges or totally free of charge.

The GGP scheme aims to provide flexible and timely assistance to NGOs as well as non-profitable organisations. Its main scope encompasses primary health care, primary education, poverty alleviation, empowerment of women, etc.