PSM High-Yield: NPCB & VI
The National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) was launched in 1976. It was later renamed the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCB & VI) to reflect a broader scope beyond just total blindness.
Key Objectives & Strategies
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Goal | Reduce the prevalence of blindness from 1.4% (1976) to 0.3% or less. |
| Major Focus | Cataract surgery (the highest cause of treatable blindness). |
| Other Areas | Refractive errors, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma, and Childhood blindness. |
Core Program Pillars
- Service Delivery: Strengthening infrastructure for cataract surgery at district hospitals and mobile eye units.
- Human Resource Development: Training eye surgeons (ophthalmologists) and paramedical ophthalmic assistants (PMOAs).
- Public Awareness: IEC activities to encourage early eye screening and treatment seeking.
- School Eye Screening: A major component to identify and manage refractive errors in children.
High-Yield Exam Pearl:
- Cataract Backlog: The program primarily focuses on clearing the backlog of cataract cases using high-quality IOL (Intraocular Lens) implantation.
- Definitions: Blindness in India is defined as visual acuity of < 3/60 in the better eye with best possible correction.
- Key Milestone: NPCB is one of the oldest national health programs in India, launched during the 5th Five-Year Plan.