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At the IAPB, seeing impactful public health strategies transition from paper to the real world is always a profoundly inspiring experience. On 9th July, members of our IAPB team had the immense privilege of undertaking an outreach visit to the Tughlakabad area in New Delhi, India to witness one such initiative firsthand: the Sightsavers India – RAAHI National Truckers’ Eye Health Programme.
We were delighted to attend the visit as a team, including my IAPB colleagues Ayesha Siddiqui, Radhika Ojha, Jignesh Bhatt, and myself. The experience provided us with a wonderful opportunity to observe firsthand the profound impact that targeted eye care has on both individual lives and broader public safety.
A Masterclass in Operational Excellence: The RAAHI initiative addresses critical yet often overlooked demographics: commercial and heavy vehicle drivers. These drivers form the backbone of the nation’s logistics, yet uncorrected refractive errors and vision-related ailments pose a significant challenge to their livelihoods and road safety. RAAHI directly tackles this by ensuring drivers receive prompt vision correction and access to sustainable, long-term eye care solutions.
Our team was thoroughly impressed by the seamless, comprehensive operational workflow managed by the on-ground organisers. The camp effectively functions as a high-efficiency mobile clinic, navigating several vital stages:
Seeing this fast-paced ecosystem function so smoothly across India’s major transit corridors highlights just how vital the programme is to be promoting safe, sustainable mobility.
Strategic Vision and Leadership: A major highlight of our visit was engaging directly with the leadership driving this initiative. We extended our sincere appreciation to Dickson Charles (National Coordinator) and Kalpita Subhankar (Project Officer) for their exceptional on-the-ground dedication.
We were also fortunate to connect with RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India, who shared the strategic insights powering the RAAHI programme’s nationwide scale. He detailed how Sightsavers India deliberately collaborates with state government departments to embed initiatives within existing frameworks. By strengthening local health systems rather than creating standalone clinics, they ensure that progress is both scalable and lasting. He explained how this collaborative approach allows Sightsavers India to drive meaningful change across its three core institutional pillars: Eye Health, Social Inclusion and Inclusive Education.
Witnessing the tangible energy, professional management, and profound community impact of the RAAHI programme reinforces the core mission we champion at IAPB. It serves as a brilliant blueprint for how cross-sector collaboration can successfully eliminate avoidable blindness.
Learn more about the initiative Sightsavers India RAAHI Programme.
