Itanagar, Feb 22: Kaho, a remote border village in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district, has been adopted for free and universal eye care under a joint initiative of the Arunachal Academy of Ophthalmology and the state unit of the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment.
Situated in the Kibithoo circle near the Indo-Tibet (China) border, Kaho lies about 8 to 10 kilometres from the Line of Actual Control along the Lohit river. The village, home to approximately 75 to 100 residents primarily from the Meyor community, is regarded as one of India’s most remote and strategically sensitive settlements.
Health officials described the adoption as a targeted intervention to eliminate preventable blindness in a frontier region where access to specialised healthcare services remains constrained due to difficult terrain, long distances and limited connectivity.
Under the programme, medical teams will conduct eye screening camps in the village every two months. Services will include the diagnosis and treatment of cataract, refractive errors and glaucoma. Free spectacles will be provided, and patients requiring surgical or advanced care will be referred to appropriate medical facilities. Awareness campaigns focusing on eye hygiene and early detection of visual impairment will also form part of the outreach.
State programme officer Dr Taba Khanna said the initiative is designed to ensure that no resident is deprived of essential eye care because of geographical isolation or financial limitations. AAO president Dr D Kaling Darang added that border villages often face challenges in accessing consistent healthcare, and the adoption model seeks to guarantee comprehensive eye care coverage for all residents, irrespective of age or income.
Periodic follow-ups will be undertaken to track outcomes and assess progress towards achieving full visual health coverage in the village. Authorities believe the sustained approach could serve as a model for similar healthcare interventions in other remote villages under the Vibrant Villages programme.
Local residents and community leaders have welcomed the initiative, stating that improved healthcare access will enhance quality of life in the settlement, which is recognised as India’s easternmost village and is gradually experiencing infrastructure development.
