Dr. Sanduk Ruit is a renowned ophthalmologist and one of Nepal's most respected figures. He has dedicated his life to fighting blindness and restoring sight to people who were once left in darkness due to cataracts. He has not only helped countless Nepalis but has also extended his services to other countries in the world, earning him global recognition.
Recently, Dr. Ruit was awarded the prestigious Isa Award for Service to Humanity for his contribution to the eradication of blindness by developing a simple method of cataract treatment, the intraocular lens. The Isa Award for Service to Humanity organization was established by the King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in 2009, in the name of the former King Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, to recognize and honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to humanity. The prize money for the award is one million US dollars.
When Dr. Ruit learned about the award, he was busy treating patients at Tilganga Eye Hospital in Kathmandu, where he serves as the Executive Director. He first received an SMS on his mobile, and later received a call to inform him that he had won the award. He was thrilled to receive the recognition for his life's work and was glad that Nepal's efforts in the field of eye care were being recognized internationally.
Dr. Ruit has been instrumental in developing a system of intraocular lenses, which have revolutionized cataract surgery. The lenses are made of a special plastic material and are inserted into the eye during surgery, eliminating the need for thick glasses after cataract surgery. Dr. Ruit and his team have not only developed the lenses but have also made them accessible to the general public by manufacturing them in Nepal. The lenses, which used to cost $200 per unit, are now available for less than five dollars, making them accessible to people in developing countries.
Dr. Ruit's campaign to eliminate blindness from Nepal has been highly successful, and the system of cataract surgery developed in Nepal has been widely used in developing countries of Africa and Asia. He has also trained doctors in these countries to perform the surgeries. Dr. Ruit and his team conduct annual campaigns to eliminate blindness, serving around 70,000 to 100,000 people every year. These campaigns have been conducted in countries such as Dhana and Ethiopia, and the team is preparing to launch campaigns in Indonesia and Laos.
Blindness is a severe problem, especially in rural and poor communities in Nepal. Dr. Ruit and his team have organized camps in various places to help people who were blind due to cataracts to see again. Karnali Province has been one of the regions with the most significant number of cataract cases. To address this problem, Dr. Ruit and his team have worked closely with Surkhet Eye Hospital and organized camps to help people in Karnali Province see again.
To make the campaign to eliminate blindness from Nepal a success, Dr. Ruit believes that the support of the government is necessary. He urges the government to create a favorable environment for using the lenses made in Nepal, which can significantly help reduce the cost of cataract surgery and make it more accessible to the general public. With his unwavering dedication and commitment, Dr. Ruit has made a significant contribution to the world, and his work serves as an inspiration for others to follow.
