The Indian Panorama is conferring Life Achievement Honor on the world-renowned eye surgeon and humanitarian Dr V.K. Raju. In the run-up to the Gratitude Gala of the weekly paper, he gave an exclusive interview to Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, its Chief Editor and Publisher. Excerpts:
Indrajit Saluja, Chief Editor, The Indian Panorama: Rotary International secured a world without polio. Now you and your Eye Foundation of America are working to eliminate needless childhood blindness in the world. But isn’t it an ambitious mission?
Dr V.K. Raju: With today’s technology and resources, it is not ambitious. Let me tell you why I have chosen to focus on childhood blindness. Let’s say a 67-year-old becomes blind. He or she has only a few years to live. But if a child becomes blind, he lives for seven decades without vision. We can catch them early and treat them and make them productive members of society for decades.
As per the World Bank, 80% of our learning is through vision. Nelson Mandela said education is the greatest equalizer. But for want of a pair of glasses, which costs Rs 200-300 in India, the kids’ learning is affected and they become a burden to themselves, the family, and society as a whole.
Malnutrition is said to be one of the causes of childhood blindness in developing countries.
Dr Raju: On this front, India has done incredibly well in the last 30-40 years. But still, overall nutrition is not good among rural people of low socio-economic strata, especially children. So, if you want to see a world without childhood blindness, first you have to tell the governments in the world to provide proper nutrition to children.
What inspired you to start the Eye Foundation of America?
Dr Raju: I was working in London and went to India for a holiday. A farmer came to show me his eyes. I did not have any equipment then. So, in 1977, I held my first eye camp in Vijayawada. After seeing so many children born with congenital cataracts, next year I took along a surgical instrument (Ocutome), but faced problems with the customs. On advice of friends, we started Eye Foundation of America for credibility.
India gave me a stellar medical education almost for free and paying back like this is no big deal. We are fortunate to do this work.
Being a Rotarian, do you think you can bring Rotary International to support your mission?
Dr Raju: They already are great supporters of my foundation and our hospitals in Andhra Pradesh. More and more people and Rotary clubs would join in South India and in Vijayawada where I work year after year. Leadership and cooperation are the road to success, as President Jimmy Carter said in his book ‘Global Health’ and whom I have fortunately met.
Tell us about your Goutami eye hospital.
Dr Raju: Goutami is in Rajahmundry district in Andhra Pradesh. It is the flagship of the Eye Foundation of America with about 14 peripheral centers. Outreach is very important in India, where 65% of people still live in villages. Goutami has a wing exclusively for children. At Goutami, we never turn down a patient. Our model is, we see 60% of the patients almost for free or subsidized and 40% are paying patients.
Besides India, which other countries have you gone in?
Dr Raju: We have worked in 30 countries, most recently in Guatemala. In some places we supply educational material, in some, we do clinical work, in still others we support their programs as in Ghana. This year-end we are going to South Africa.
What led you to Guatemala?
Dr Raju: Prof Saluja, you are the one who made that project happen through the Indian Consul General there, Amb. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra. You were there when we screened the patients in Guatemala City. We went back with another colleague of mine last November and performed eye surgeries. Amb. Mohapatra was very helpful.
I saw you examine 500 people at five locations in Guatemala. How many screenings and surgeries EFA has done so far?
Dr Raju: Almost 4 million people have been screened as outpatients in the peripheral hospitals and clinics and at least 350,000 operations have been done already.
For this colossal work, how are you able to manage funds?
Dr Raju: For the first 16 years, our Foundation did not have a fundraiser. Now we do. Last year we raised $800,000. Here I must tell the story of Srinu Maddula. I brought him here from Vijayawada for a corneal transplant about 35 years ago when he was a toddler. He went on to finish his doctorate in pharmacy from Rutgers. Now he feels that what the eye foundation did for him, he should do more for it.
For community service projects, help comes unexpectedly. You introduced me to Blitz India editor Deepak Dwivedi and Sandeepp Saxena and they introduced me to Lord Swaraj Paul and Lord Loomba in England. I was honored at the House of Lords, and we set up a chapter of our foundation there.
What are the main causes of blindness?
Dr Raju: The most common visual problem is cataract, which is clouding of the lens of the eye. Cataract is not a disease. It can develop with age. Left untreated, cataract leads to blindness. Today very easy and successful surgeries are available to remove cataracts. You don’t need to stay in the hospital, you go home the same day.
The other eye problem is glaucoma. It is caused by high eye pressure damaging the nerve connecting the eye to the brain. So, one should get checked for glaucoma every two years after the age of 40.
With diabetes, if you get regular eye exams, you won’t lose sight.
What is your advice to my readers about keeping eyes in good condition?
Dr Raju: If your general health is good, your eye health will be good too. So, eat right, exercise, and do everything in moderation. Protect the eyes with sunglasses when you spend a lot of time outdoors. Cataract development, if at all, will be slow then.
Is your daughter Dr. Leela Raju, your natural successor?
Dr Raju: Absolutely. She is very much part of the foundation work and capable of running the show once I’m gone.
You have been conferred so many awards and honors, now another one by The Indian Panorama, how do you feel?
Dr Raju: Each honor means more opportunity to continue and do even more work and serve people. Yet, as we say in the Indian ethos, I am only nimitta matra (a medium) for whatever good I am able to do.
