Apr 10, 2017
5 Things About Fauzia That You Didn’t Know — And Should
#5 You Changed Her Life
Delhi — The ophthalmologist examined Fauzia, paused and made a simple statement that changed the life of this little girl and her entire family.
“Her vision will be fully restored,” Dr. Suma Ganesh said from her office in the Children’s Building of Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital in New Delhi.
Her father stood next her and blinked in surprise. Could it be that after years of searching and struggling to find medical care for this girl that she would be OK in the end? Normally, a very verbal man not short on words, he took a deep breath, asked the doctor a few simple questions and left with her daughter.
It was chilly in Delhi that morning, and the street vendors could be heard as they exited the Children’s Building. They climbed two flights of stairs leading to the Prakash Center, packed their bags and began to imagine a new future.
Elementary school. High School. Postponed marriage — an unusual circumstance for families in their economic bracket. These were now all within reach for this family that lives on less than $1,200 a year.
“Thank you,” her father said to the Project Prakash team at the Prakash Center.
It was not a true goodbye because Fauzia would return for followups, but the awesomeness of bringing Fauzia to the Prakash Center as a nearly blind girl and leaving with the knowledge that her vision would be fully restored took time to sink in.
Here are 5 Things About Fauzia That You Should Know
#5 You Changed Her Life
Project Prakash is a Cambridge-based nonprofit that identifies, screens and provides treatment to children with low vision and curable blindness in India. India is home to the largest population of children with curable blindness in the world.
In supporting her surgery, you enabled Fauzia to go to school, get an education and, with luck, postpone early marriage.
#4 Most children are like Fauzia
Figures from the World Health Organization indicate that anywhere from 200,000 to 700,000 children are curably blind. Project Prakash has been working in some of the most far-flung sections of India to find these children.
Nearly 40% of these are curable. Families often cannot afford 3 meals a day, rendering medical care out of the question.
Project Prakash identifies children like Fauzia through eye care camp screenings in schools for the blind and village health outreach efforts.
#3 Giving Vision is a Gift With Immeasurable Impact
Girls with low vision are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse. When you sponsor a surgery, you greatly reduce the chances of assault, which is a major problem in India.
Girls with low vision and blindness are highly likely to experience sexual assault in their lifetimes. Perpetrators are unlikely to face any consequences.
#2 You Furthered Our Understanding of Science
Project Prakash, a dual-missioned organization to serve a humanitarian cause, also has a scientific objective of Project Prakash to understand the prospects and process of visual recovery after a lifetime of blindness. From this perspective, these studies provide unique windows into the brain’s fundamental mechanisms of learning and plasticity.
The scientific team follows-up with patients,like Fauzia, to assess how their vision develops after treatment. We then share these findings for everyone to access.
#1 You Can Help Us Find More Children Like Fauzia
We found Fauzia through an eye care camp and know that many more like her are out there.
Our goal in 2017 is to provide surgeries to 245 children, just like Fauzia. A simple $200 surgery is all it takes to help.
About Project Prakash
To learn more about Project Prakash or support curable blindness in India and support our efforts, click here.
Thank you for reading (and caring).
