Working Vision’s Kathmandu Team led by Dr. Ben Limbu held a workshop at Patan Industrial Estate on April 20, 2012. In addition to distributing 71 pairs of safety glasses, a film crew also captured the workshop. The film crew was assembled by Timmy O’Neill, a visitor from the USA. In addition to a career as a professional climber and the executive director of Paradox Sports (http://www.paradoxsports.org), Timmy recently also became an ophthalmic technician. Click the date to see photos.
Khairanitar Rural Development Program
Dr. Limbu and the Kathmandu Team recently held a workshop for 56 farmers as part of the Khairantar Rural Development Program in Nuwakot Province. Nuwakot Province is about 6 hours away from Kathmandu by bus. In related news, Dr. Ben recently became the Executive Director of Working Vision in Nepal. Dr. Ben brings his dedication to eradicating work-related eye trauma, sense of humor, and charisma to the executive director position. Click the date to see photos.
Hetauda Metal Workers
On Feb 21, 2012, Dr. Prathiba Lama and the Hetauda team completed a workshop with metal workers from various small businesses in Hetauda. The workshop was held at Hetauda Community Eye Hospital, and 36 workers participated. Dr. Prathiba recently took over Working Vision’s efforts in Hetauda. Like Dr. Ben Limbu before her, Dr. Prathiba Lama is now the current director of HCEH. From the looks of this workshop, she is off to a great start, and we are lucky to have her help!
LOOK Glasses (Base Hospital and Okhaldunga Rural Development Program)
On November 11, Dr. Ben and the Working Vision team in Hetauda journeyed 2 days to a small rural village called Okhaldhunga. In addition to their efforts with Working Vision, the employees at Hetauda Community Eye Hospital also performed a series of cataract surgeries as part of their work with the Himalayan Cataract Project. In addition to providing education on eye safety at work, Dr. Ben and his team also distributed sunglasses and reading spectacles donated by LOOK glasses.
World Sight Day, Radheshyam Metal
World Sight Day is an annual day dedicated to vision awareness. Created by the World Health Organization’s Vision 2020 (which aims to eradicate preventable blindness by the year 2020), World Sight Day is a great day for vision around the world! This year, Working Vision’s Kathmandu team, led by Dr. Rohit Saiju, spent the day caring for workers at Radheshyam Metal Works. Dr. Saiju and his team provided 150 pairs of safety glasses and dust masks. The team was also joined by Miss Nepal 2010, Sadichha Shrestha, and recording artist, Reema Gurung. We can’t thank these celebrities enough for helping us promote Vision safety on World Sight Day!
Household Trauma Workshop Kathmandu
The Kathmandu Team held an education workshop for senior citizens and retired government officers on July 18, 2011. The education focused on the avoidance of household trauma. The workshop's 37 participants had many questions for Dr. Saiju and his team, and a great discussion followed.
Dolakha Rural Development Program, Phasku
The Hetauda Team led by Dr. Ben Limbu held a series of workshops with the Dolakha Rural Development Program. Each workshop had about 20 participants. One group of participants was comprised of maternal health workers. In the U.S. and Europe, healthcare workers employed in surgical settings have easy access to safety glasses. These glasses protect from bodily fluids and the diseases they carry.
Laliguras Female Farmers Group
On June 15, 2011, Dr. Ben Limbu and the Hetauda Team held a workshop exclusively for female farm workers. A majority of the agricultural workers in Nepal are female. Aside from being exclusively for women, this workshop was also special because it was the second workshop to provide safety eyewear for farm workers. Research has shown that agricultural workers are the most likely to be experience disability after a work-related eye injury.
Hetauda Cement Industries Revisited
Dr. Ben and the Hetauda Team returned to Hetauda Cement Industries this June and provided 121 eye screening exams. This visit compliments the team’s last visit to Hetauda Cement Industries in August 2010.
Harnamadi Village Development Committee
On May 20, 2011, the Hetauda team conducted a workshop and awareness program for agricultural workers in Harnamadi Village, a rural area near Hetauda. 33 workers participated in the program. Three of the participants had experienced previous eye injuries that resulted in irreversible loss of vision, and many of the other farmers reported experiencing minor eye injury during farming.
All agricultural workers participating received a free eye screening exam and a pair of protective eyewear. A story on the Harnamadi Village workshop was also published in the local newspaper!
Everest Venile Pvt. Ltd.
On January 19, 2011, the Hetauda Team conducted an eyewear distribution workshop and screening exams at Everest Venile Pvt. Ltd. Amongst other products, Everest Venile manufactures industrial floor coverings and carpet. 106 workers received free eye screening exams at this workshop which was conducted with the cooperation of the Makawanpur Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Hetauda Association of Industry.
Shivam Cement Industries
Dr. Ben and his team from the Hetauda Community Eye Hospital held a safety eyewear workshop and provided screening exams for 246 workers at Shivam Cement Industries on Saturday, October 2.
Himalayan Bamboo
On Friday, September 24, Dr. Limbu, Sudhir Shrestha, and other members of the Hetauda Team provided basic eye exams and free safety eyewear for workers at Himalayan Bamboo in Hetauda, Nepal. In the photos above (from right to left), patients are being screened for decreased visual acuity, corneal and conjunctival disease, and dry eye. A research study also began at the Himalayan Bamboo Workshop in which participants were surveyed on previous on-the-job eye injuries and safety eyewear usage.
Nepal Cylinder and Bitumin & Barrel Industries
On Friday, September 17, Working Vision’s Hetauda Team, led by Dr. Ben Limbu began providing basic eye exams at select safety eyewear workshops. The first two basic eye exam sessions were held at Nepal Cylinder Ltd. and Bitumin & Barrel Industries, both located in Hetauda, Nepal. At the workshops, 130 participants received exams in which they were screened for vision loss and eye disease.
Radha Structure and Engineering Works
On August 14th, the Kathmandu team led by Dr. Rohit Saiju conducted Working Vision’s largest workshop to date! 120 workers from from Radha Structure and Engineering Works participated. Grant Moore, from Working Vision’s U.S.-based team was also on hand for the workshop. MK Shrestha and Hari Vinwar also gave presentations. Participants at the workshop received protective eyewear and began using it the same day! Another workshop is planned to provide Radha Structure and Engineering Works’ other 300 workers with protective glasses.
Nepal Yala Shala Energy Revisited
On Wednesday, August 11, Dr. Rohit Saiju, Grant Moore, and other members of Working Vision’s Kathmandu team revisited Nepal Yantra Shala Energy, a manufacturer of hydroelectric turbines like the one seen above. Nepal Yantra Shala was the site of Working Vision’s very first workshop in November of 2009! During the revisit, the staff checked in with Nepal Yantra Shala’s employees regarding their protective glasses. As seen in the photo above, the protective glasses had seen better days! The black spots on the safety goggles are foreign bodies that were prevented from causing an eye injury. During the revisit the Working Vision team replaced the dirty and damaged goggles with new protective eyewear.
Hetauda Municipality Office
On Sunday, August 8, a workshop was held at the Hetauda Municipality office in Hetauda, Nepal. The workshop was led by Dr. Ben Limbu, and 40 workers from the municipality’s road maintenance department participated. In addition to protective eyewear, the participants also requested dust masks. If you or an associate can supply Working Vision with dust masks, please contact us at workingvision@gmail.com.
Hetauda Cement Industries
On Friday, August 6, Working Vision’s Hetauda team conducted a workshop at Hetauda Cement Industries, in Hetauda, Nepal. 95 workers participated in the workshop. Hetauda Cement is home to over 650 workers, so this was the first workshop of several. The workshop was led by Dr. Ben Limbu and Tulasi Prasad. Grant from Working Vision’s US-based team was given the honor of presenting the protective glasses at the workshop’s conclusion. The staff at Hetauda Cement had many great questions for the Working Vision team and great dialogue ensued! The staff also requested basic eye exams at Working Vision’s next visit.
Trimurti Engineering Works
On Wednesday, August 4, Working Vision’s Hetauda team and Executive Director, Grant Moore, held a workshop at Trimurti Engineering Works, in Hetauda, Nepal. The workshop was led by Dr. Ben Limbu and 20 workers participated. In addition to expressing their gratitude for their new protective eyewear, the workers also requested welding glasses and shields. If you or an associate can provide Working Vision with new or discounted welding glasses, please contact us at workingvision@gmail.com.
Pradhan Engineering Works
On July 31, Dr. Saiju, MK Shrestha, Hari Vinwar, and Kumar Shrestha conducted a Workshop at Pradhan Engineering Works in Kathmandu. 30 workers participated in the workshop. The Kathmandu team was joined by Working Vision’s executive director, Grant Moore. Grant is scheduled to join the teams in Kathmandu and Hetauda over the next two weeks.