In 2024, Seva Canada donors gave us the chance to provide care to more patients in need. We asked our trusted, long-time partner in India, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (“Shroff’s”), if they knew of a hospital team that met our criteria: working in a high-need area, committed to helping underserved communities, and able to offer the full range of eye care services. They highly recommended Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), a non-profit, multi-specialty hospital located in Punjab State, India.
When we visited DMCH, we met Dr. Priyanka Arora, a professor and pediatric ophthalmologist, whose commitment to providing eye care for children is striking. She listens closely, explains patiently, and makes parents feel part of the care process. For children, many of whom arrive anxious or unable to describe what they’re experiencing, her calm, attentive manner helps them feel safe. Her focus on reaching the unreached, early diagnosis and timely treatment means children who might otherwise lose their vision are getting the care they need at the right moment, giving them a far better chance at success in school and in life.
With her vision, expert mentorship from Shroff’s, and support from Seva Canada’s donors and staff, together we launched Project ROSHANI: a three-year plan to build a comprehensive pediatric ophthalmology program and five Community Eye Centres (CECs) in rural areas around Ludhiana.
During the first few months of the partnership, Shroff’s staff trained Dr. Priyanka’s team in how to run effective community and school screenings. They also hosted visits to their own CECs so the team could see them in action. Since then, Dr. Priyanka and the ROSHANI team have gone full steam ahead, providing care for their community.
In 2025, thanks to support from Seva Canada donors, they have screened over 4,600 children, distributed over 400 glasses, and performed 95 sight-restoring surgeries.
They also opened their first CEC on October 15th in Pohir village. This Centre is linked to the base hospital through teleophthalmology, allowing patients to receive the full range of diagnostic care. In the first few months of operation, the Pohir CEC helped almost 600 patients, clearly demonstrating the strong need for low-cost, high-quality eye care in this community.
We are so grateful to the donors who have made this work possible, the Shroff’s and DMCH teams for their leadership and vision, as well as to Dr. Priyanka and her team for their brilliant execution of the ROSHANI project. We look forward to working together to prevent blindness in Punjab State for years to come!
