Intro: Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh visited a major Indian Army eye camp in Bhuj restoring vision to 200 people.
Bhuj
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Thursday visited the Surgical Eye Camp at the Military Hospital Bhuj, marking the conclusion of a three-day medical outreach programme that restored eyesight to more than 200 beneficiaries from the border district of Kutch.
The camp was conducted from February 3 to 5 under the aegis of the Southern Command and organised in collaboration with the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi. During his visit, the Defence Secretary was accompanied by Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command.
Singh interacted with patients recovering in post-operative wards, enquired about their health, and personally distributed medicines and spectacles to several beneficiaries. He also acknowledged the efforts of the medical teams involved in the initiative, felicitating Brigadier Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Consultant and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Army Hospital (R&R), along with the specialist surgical team for delivering advanced eye care under challenging field conditions.
Describing the camp as a commendable example of the Indian Army’s commitment to veterans’ welfare and military–civil cooperation, the Defence Secretary said such initiatives have a significant impact in improving the quality of life of people living in remote and border regions. He highlighted the importance of taking specialised healthcare services closer to communities that otherwise face logistical and economic barriers in accessing treatment.
The outreach programme catered to a target population of nearly 3,000 people across Kutch district. Beneficiaries included veterans, their dependents, and civilians from more than 120 villages in Bhuj taluka, including remote and strategically sensitive border areas such as Lakhpat, Narayan Sarovar, and Dayapar.
In addition to cataract and corrective surgeries, comprehensive eye screenings were carried out to detect and address a wide range of ophthalmic conditions at an early stage. Officials said all procedures were performed using state-of-the-art ophthalmic equipment and premium intraocular lenses, with strict adherence to established clinical and safety standards. Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, who also visited the camp during its course, praised the professionalism and dedication of the medical staff.
