The Story of Shradhdha
For the past year, Shradhdha has been losing her eyesight. Her parents did not know that their daughter was suffering in silence.
“I can only see very close objects and near to me,” Shradhdha said.
“I was afraid of eating fish because I might swallow fishbones. My parents had to help me with feeding to avoid bones stuck in my throat,” she said.
Shradhdha had to sit close to the television screen, hold books up to her eyes, and had trouble seeing the classroom board at school.
“It was hard for me to read books or the words written on a board or screen. Everything was blurry,” she said.
Fortunately, Shradhdha’s worsening eye sight was diagnosed when an eye screening campaign visited her school to provide eye health care and education for students.
The campaigns are supported by The Fred Hollows Foundation and Noor Dubai Foundation to identify students with undetected or misdiagnosed vision loss.
The medical team identified Shradhdha’s eye condition and advised the family to take her to Grameen GC Hospital for an eye examination.
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Thanks to generous supporters like you, this little girl’s life has been transformed
Shradhdha and her aunt Rita Mojunder walked through the local neighbourhoods to reach the hospital.
“We have to do something about it – if there is free care for all and it is only one hour away from our house, then what are we waiting for?
“Providing eye care in Barishal where it is free and accessible to all is a dream come true for thousands of children with vision loss and families who can’t afford it,” Mrs Mojumder said.
In Bangladesh, the leading cause of moderate and severe vision impairment is uncorrected refractive error, according to the Nationwide Blindless Survey 2020.
Refractive error is a common health issue among young school-aged children in Bangladesh. More than 1.5 million children suffer from vision loss due to uncorrected refractive error.
Will you help us reach more people like Shradhdha with the extraordinary gift of sight today?
Shradhdha entered the hospital carefully, walking slowly and nervously.
After a comprehensive eye examination, the ophthalmologist found that Shradhdha had uncorrected refractive error and said her vision could be treated.
“The ophthalmologist informed us that she is near-sighted and she needs to wear glasses all time,” Mrs Mojumder says.
Delaying treatment could lead to deteriorating eyesight and many children are not treated because of financial hardship and poverty.
Since 2021, The Foundation and Noor Dubai Foundation have been supporting a comprehensive eyecare program to provide children with free comprehensive eye exams and treatment.
Shradhdha was issued with glasses and no longer has difficulty seeing objects far away.
“We were happy to access eye health education and care without worrying about the financial bill,” Mrs Mojumder said.
“Now all we need is to ensure she wears glasses all the time and that she does not miss her regular free eye examinations every six months.”
“It is a dream come true to see my niece play with her friends, read notes on boards, watch TV from a long distance, and now she prepares her meals, and eats fish by herself,” she said.
"The best decision we have ever made is putting our trust in the eyecare services that have been provided."
Shradhdha leaves the hospital with confidence and walks with fast and long steps.
The Fred Hollows Foundation is delivering sight-saving interventions to thousands of children in Barishal and ensuring no child with vision loss is left behind.
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GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT
Imagine not being able to access the basic eye care needed to lead your life. There are millions of people throughout the world who live like this. Vision impairment and blindness can affect every aspect of one's life; school, work, relationships, and basic human rights.
The Fred Hollows Foundation is an ally to these people. We provide basic eye care services, ensuring that hundreds of thousands of people have their lives transformed every single year.
Please, consider being a part of this life-changing humanitarian movement, and donate today.