Havelian, Abbottabad – In a major milestone for healthcare access in rural Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lok Sudhar Association has inaugurated a state-of-the-art Eye Hospital funded by the Embassy of Japan under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP/Kusanone).
The new facility, located in Havelian, is equipped with a fully operational operation theater and advanced diagnostic equipment, capable of serving approximately 22,000 patients annually and performing 1,000 cataract surgeries each year – completely free of cost for deserving patients.
“This hospital represents a new chapter in our 27-year journey of community-led development,” said Tariq Mehmood Baig, Deputy Chairperson of Lok Sudhar. “For the first time, the people of Havelian and surrounding areas have access to quality eye care without traveling to major cities or incurring crippling expenses.”
A Response to a Silent Crisis
Pakistan faces a staggering challenge with over 21 million people suffering from blindness and visual impairment. According to recent studies, the prevalence of blindness in Pakistan stands at 0.9% – significantly higher than high-income countries where it is around 0.15%. In District Abbottabad, a shocking 80% of elderly women and men lack access to basic health facilities in their vicinity.
Cataract remains the primary cause of avoidable blindness in Pakistan, accounting for over half of all cases, followed by corneal opacity (11.8%), uncorrected aphakia (8.6%), and glaucoma (7.1%). The new hospital directly addresses this gap by providing free screening, diagnosis, treatment, and surgical intervention.
Key Statistics at a Glance
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Annual Patients Served | 22,000+ |
| Free Cataract Surgeries/Year | 1,000+ |
| Catchment Population | 200,000+ |
| Initial Surgeries (Oct-Dec 2024) | 455 |
| Minor Procedures | 100 |
Early Success: 455 Surgeries in Initial Months
Since its soft launch in October 2024, the hospital has already performed 455 cataract surgeries and 100 minor procedures, dramatically improving vision and quality of life for hundreds of individuals.
The hospital builds upon the success of Lok Sudhar’s Community Eye Health Center, established in April 2019 in collaboration with LRBT (The Layton Rehmatullah Benevolent Trust). That center has already achieved remarkable results:
- 79,453 people screened for eye diseases
- 63,572 patients treated with necessary medicines
- 15,881 patients referred to tertiary hospitals for complex cases
- 41,471 refractive errors identified and corrected
- 32,953 patients received free medicines
- 2,627 cataract cases facilitated for surgery
A Collaborative Effort
The project was made possible through the generous support of the Embassy of Japan, with technical collaboration from LRBT, one of Pakistan’s most reputable organizations focused on delivering eye care to disadvantaged populations.
“Japan believes that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare,” a representative from the Embassy of Japan stated at the inauguration ceremony. “This hospital is a testament to the strong partnership between Japan and Pakistan in improving the lives of vulnerable communities. We are proud to support Lok Sudhar in this vital initiative.”
Lok Sudhar continues to partner with Al-Munir Welfare Trust, OUI Inc. Japan, and various government departments to ensure comprehensive eye care delivery. The organization is also conducting research in partnership with OUI Inc. using Smart Eye Camera (SEC) technology for online diagnosis of eye diseases.
A Patient’s Story: Noor Khan’s Journey Back to Sight
For 65-year-old Noor Khan, a farmer from a village near Havelian, the new hospital has been life-changing.
“When my vision became too blurry to work, I thought I would never see my grandchildren’s faces clearly again,” Noor shares. “Our community health workers identified me during a village screening. Within weeks, I was referred and received successful cataract surgery at no cost. I have my dignity back. I can work again. Lok Sudhar gave me back my life.”
Stories like Noor’s are why the Eye Health Center exists – and why the new hospital will continue to transform lives for years to come.
Services Offered at the New Eye Hospital
The hospital provides a comprehensive range of eye care services:
- Screening and Diagnosis: Comprehensive eye examinations for refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and other conditions
- Free Medicines: Essential medications provided at no cost to poor patients
- Cataract Surgery: Complete surgical services including pre-operative assessment, surgery, and post-operative care
- Specialist Referrals: Referral pathway for complex eye diseases to tertiary hospitals like Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital Rawalpindi
- Prescription Glasses: Distribution of corrective eyewear for refractive errors
- Community Awareness: Regular outreach programs on eye care and preventive measures
Looking Ahead: Future Plans
The hospital plans to expand its outreach through:
- Mobile Eye Camps: Regular screening camps in remote villages
- School Screening Programs: Early detection of vision problems in children
- Telemedicine Services: Through partnership with OUI Inc., Japan for smartphone-based eye diagnostics
- Community Health Worker Training: Building local capacity for early identification of eye diseases
How to Access Services
Patients seeking treatment can visit the hospital located near the Rural Health Centre in Havelian, Abbottabad. For appointments and referrals:
- Phone: 0300-5630392 or 0992-810247
- Email: loksudharpakistan@yahoo.com
- Address: Street, Gul Khitab, near Rural Health Centre, Havelian, Abbottabad
The hospital is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. All services are provided free of cost for deserving patients.
Support This Life-Changing Work
Your donation can help us serve more patients, provide more free medicines, and perform more sight-restoring surgeries. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference.
- PKR 1,000 screens 20 patients for eye diseases
- PKR 2,500 provides free medicines for 50 patients
- PKR 15,000 supports one complete cataract surgery
- PKR 30,000 funds a full day of mobile eye camp operations
Click below to support the Eye Health Program
About Lok Sudhar
Founded in 1996, Lok Sudhar (“Lok” = people, “Sudhar” = to train, mentor, develop) is a non-government, non-profit organization registered under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Ordinance 1961 (Registration No: DSW 1184) and the KP Charities Act 2019 (Registration No: KP-5218228696305032). For 27 years, we have worked to move communities from passive recipients to active decision-makers.