By Prof. Indrajit S Saluja

Dr. V.K. Raju, MD, FRCS, FACS, the Founder and Medical Director of the Eye Foundation of American is on a crusade to eliminate avoidable blindness around the world.

Eye Foundation of America began its work in 1979 in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. EFA grew out of his earlier work providing services and treatment near his birthplace in Rajahamundry, a town in Southeast India‘s Andhra Pradesh. Raju organized teams to go to remote areas and deliver eye care in areas where there otherwise were none. These traveling clinics were known as “eye camps.” (Eye camps remain a standard part of the Foundation’s services today.)

Raju dedicated virtually all the spare time he had outside his busy ophthalmological practice in West Virginia and used his own funds to cover many of the expenses. Eventually it became apparent that the lack of accessible, affordable eye care was very large and shared by an enormous number of people worldwide. In order to battle avoidable blindness on a global scale and to gain strength by partnering with other organizations, Raju created the 501 © 3 nonprofit organization that we know today as the Eye Foundation of America.

Today, Foundation has grown far beyond its original size and scope but never outgrew the vision of its founder, who continues to look ahead. EFA has built modern eye hospitals and trained ophthalmic assistants and other personnel to carry on our work. We provide workshops and fellowships for physicians and medical students throughout the world. We also conduct research to find better ways of preventing blindness, to learn how to distribute Vitamin A efficiently

His team has done wonders, considering the tremendous work done by them.

• 2 million+ outpatients

• 300 thousand+ eye surgeries

• 25 thousand+ on children

This is completed by the Eye Foundation of America team since 1977 in India and 21 other developing countries. Additionally, the Eye Foundation of America lays great emphasis on teaching and training of health professionals who receive the Foundation’s support at every level.

When Dr. VK Raju invited me over for the annual Golf for Sight tournament which was held on July 21, I was a little confused. I wondered what connection sight could have with golf. However, I soon learnt it was a golf tournament Dr. Raju has been organizing to raise funds for the Eye Foundation of America which he founded in 1979 to work for prevention of blindness, particularly among children. As of now, the Foundation provides services in more than 14 countries and it has plans to extend that reach in the years ahead.

After the tournament was over, I asked Dr. Raju to sit me with me for an interview for The Indian Panorama. He was gracious enough to schedule a meeting the next morning over breakfast at his place.

Here are excerpts from the interview.

What is the concept behind the Eye Foundation of America and the various activities you are conducting?

The concept behind it is to review different aspects of a disease. For example, 80% of our learning is through vision. If you don’t promote good nutrition and exercise, we get into diabetes. And once we get into diabetes, things that can go wrong, it can affect from top of the head to toes. But most of the problems caused by diabetes can be prevented. We all have to start it early. West Virginia – where I came from India via London 40 years ago has tremendous similarities with India. It has wonderful people, hardworking people just like India. West Virginia has tremendous potential like India – it is not on the top of world but it can be. I feel I have two homes – travel from home to home. Ironically West Virginia and India have highest rates of diabetes. So this project is mainly to address problems of children, their nutrition problem is almost like developing countries. In the context of United States, some of the West Virginia counties have been neglected for a long time. So our objective is working with others. By doing so, we can do well. West Virginia University is unique – it has extension service where incredible people work. They have their presence in India too. Both Eye Foundation of America’s motto is ‘World without Childhood Blindness.’

During the last three years you launched a program/event called ‘For Sight.’ What kind of cooperation has been forthcoming from the community?

Very good but it has to be much better than what we are experiencing. This kind of effort needs a lot of people and time. Selling something is easy but doing an event is not.

How about your medical fraternity? How supportive they are?

Generally, the medical fraternity is too busy with their day to day routine. And they don’t think about things like this. The state medical association president Dr Rahul Gupta is a public health man and has been very supportive of program like this and we are trying to reach more and more. We are trying to make the event bigger.

You are talking about your two homes – West Virginia and India. Have you ever tried to establish a sister cities concept between West Virginia and any state of India?

We tried many times but others have to participate. I always quote this – If you want to go fast, you go alone. If you want to go very far, you go with the team. By working together, we can do more. Non-medically these things can be done, not by medical people.

Would you like to take up this issue to establish a sister cities concept between West Virginia and Andhra Pradesh with the help of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu?

Of course. But not only Andhra Pradesh. It can be any other state if we get proper support.

Do you think you have enough contact with the West Virginia State to convince them to establish a relationship of that kind with another state in India?

Absolutely. Our state Senator has been extremely supportive of our projects. He is a very good friend of mine and always ready to do things like this. The mayor of Morgan town, who retired couple of years back, visited India. But we need help from others like journalists, think tanks.

West Virginia University extension service centers are doing excellent job. Do you have any plan to open such centers in India with the help of the university?

Absolutely – West Virginia University extension service has their presence in India too. We will make it bigger. But you know, the proof of pudding is in eating. The Rotary International is working with WHO, UNICEF to eradicate polio for decades. That is the way it should be done.

Have you ever tried to collaborate with AAPI to prevent blindness in India?

AAPI is a wonderful organization and it can do good things. There are many projects under them. But being persistent with a project is very important. In recent AAPI meetings many leaders expressed interest. So, we have to look into that.

Tell us about the hospitals you have established in India

Both in Andhra Pradesh. The first one is in Kakinada which I opened with the help of my friend in Canada. The second one is Goutami Eye Institute, a fully-equipped eye hospital in Rajahmundry, with a wing dedicated to children’s eye care. The Goutami Eye Institute has become a global training center for education, and exchange programs.  The Goutami Eye Institute has trained teachers to screen 100,000 school children for symptoms.  Since its inception the Eye Foundation of America has performed more than 300,000 surgeries, 25,000 of these surgeries on children. For new born premature babies we give oxygen so that they can survive and don’t get blind.

Have you ever thought of seeking government help for your institutions?

We did many times but indirectly. A friend of mine fixed an appointment with Mrs. Gandhi but it did not happen. Later we tried with many government agencies but that also did not work out.

What is your opinion about the role of corporate world in health sector in India?

The corporate sector is doing a very good job. But except few, the standard is not at par with the western world.

If a state in India requests you to set up an eye hospital with the aim of avoidable blindness that the children of that state do not go blind, what would be your reaction?

The answer for that is – if it happens – it will be my dream comes true. The first thing we need is land. Rest of it will be taken care of.

Just before we parted he invited me over to another event the Foundation is organizing. This time in India. The Foundation will host an event on Oct 27 in India. People from all walks of life across the globe will come together. Mr Ravi from Sri Lanka – President of Rotary International will be the Chief Guest. Shrinu – foster child of IFA will be the guest of honor. Dr. Raju is such a fine person I could not decline his invitation. So, I have to be preparing to leave for India in the third week of October.