NEW DELHI: Indian Army doctors successfully performed over 350 cataract surgeries during a five-day camp held at the 158 Base Hospital in Bengdubi, West Bengal.
The camp, conducted from March 19 to 24, 2025, aimed to provide much-needed ophthalmic care to veterans and their dependents residing in remote areas of Northern Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, and even Nepal.
The Indian Air Force’s newly inducted Airbus C-295 transport aircraft played a pivotal role in this endeavor by airlifting medical personnel and sophisticated ophthalmic equipment, including phacoemulsification machines and operating microscopes, from Palam Airport to Bagdogra.
This logistical support was crucial in setting up a fully functional eye surgery facility at the 158 Base Hospital.
The initiative was organized following requests from West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, who highlighted the need for specialized medical services for veterans in the region. The camp was led by Brigadier Sanjay Mishra, head of the ophthalmology department at Army Hospital Research and Referral (RR), New Delhi.
The medical team comprised six specialist doctors and seven resident doctors, including personnel from Central Command, Lucknow, who collaborated with RR ophthalmologists to ensure the camp’s success.
This initiative underscores the Indian Army’s commitment to the well-being of its veterans, providing them with essential medical services and enhancing their quality of life.
The success of this camp follows similar efforts in Dehradun and Jaipur, where Army medical teams restored vision to hundreds of veterans through specialized eye surgery camps.