Expanding the Reach: Eye Camps in the Indus Region

In line with our core mission of "Reaching the Un-reached," ERWO teams embarked on a critical journey across the Central and West regions of the River Indus. We established specialized mobile screening camps in remote localities such as Azeemabad, Sann, and Sakrand. These areas, often disconnected from major urban healthcare facilities, are home to thousands who suffer from preventable blindness due to a lack of early diagnosis. By bringing expert medical attention directly to their doorsteps, we aim to bridge the gap between poverty and quality healthcare.

What sets these camps apart is ERWO’s unique focus as Pakistan's first and only exclusive retina welfare NGO. While general eye camps often focus solely on cataracts, our teams in the Central and West Indus regions were equipped to detect complex retinal diseases that are frequently overlooked until it is too late. Our specialists screened patients for conditions like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma—silent thieves of sight that require specialized intervention to prevent permanent blindness.

The operational model for these camps ensures that no patient is left behind. During our visits to Azeemabad, Sann, and Sakrand, patients identified with critical conditions were not just diagnosed but were also provided a clear pathway to recovery. Those requiring advanced surgical procedures were referred to our state-of-the-art tertiary care facilities, including the ERWO Eye Centre in Nawabshah and the Al-Ain Institute in Karachi. This seamless referral system allows us to perform complex procedures that would otherwise be impossible in a field setting.

Our commitment to these communities is driven by the belief that financial status should never determine one's ability to see the world. In private hospitals, a single retinal operation can cost upwards of Rs. 450,000—an impossible sum for the daily wage earners in these rural belts. At ERWO, we provide these high-quality surgeries completely free of charge for the deserving poor, ensuring that the gift of sight remains a fundamental right for all, rather than a luxury for a few.