A function was recently held at the Community Eye Care Foundation’s Vision Aid centre at Bhandarkar road to distribute the smart phones to 11 visually impaired girls by Pune MP Girish Bapat. The purpose was to introduce them to mobile technology. They will be given 3 months training regarding use of phones to use the internet and distance learning, Dr Parikshit Gogate, director at the centre and noted ophthalmologist said.

The community eye care foundation (CECF) is a trust working in the field of community eye care. The purpose of CECF is to provide comprehensive quality eye care and conduct outreach programmes like school eye health screening in blind schools, regular schools, schools for hearing impaired and physically challenged.

CECF conducted door to door surveys in the suburban area of Pune.In last 12 years since its start in 2010 centre has examined 1,44,029 patients, operated upon 3,419 patients, dispensed spectacles to 9,896 persons and dispensed medicines to 8,447 needy patients, authorities at the centre said.

Community Eye Care Foundation’s Vision Aid centre was set up in collaboration with Vision Aid USA and supported by Rotary Club Downtown. The purpose is to provide Visual Rehabilitation and Skill development to people who are irreversibly blind, Dr Gogate said.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/visually-challenged-girls-get-taste-of-tech-with-new-smartphones-8201273/