Aneeta Prem MBE, CEO of TNA, the sole UK charity dedicated to raising awareness of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), has launched the “#ShowTN3Fingers” campaign to urgently raise national awareness of a condition often referred to as the “suicide disease.” This term highlights the severity of the excruciating facial pain associated with TN, which can drive sufferers to extreme desperation.

Unveiling the Hidden Disability: What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?

TN is an acute and debilitating condition that affects the trigeminal nerve in the face. It is frequently misdiagnosed, with the pain often mistaken for dental issues, resulting in unnecessary tooth extractions. Globally, TN affects approximately 1 in 15,000 to 20,000 people and has severe mental health consequences, including social isolation.

Crisis Calls Surge: The Urgent Need for National Awareness

TNA’s freephone helpline has witnessed a distressing increase in calls from individuals on the brink of despair. Some are even contemplating extreme measures, including seeking euthanasia options in Switzerland, underscoring the pressing need for national recognition and immediate action.

Timely Intervention is Critical

TN symptoms often worsen during colder weather, and rising living costs exacerbate the situation as some individuals struggle to afford adequate heating, further intensifying their condition.

The “#ShowTN3Fingers” and “#FaceOfTN” Campaigns: How to Participate

Endorsed by Aneeta Prem MBE, these campaigns utilise a simple yet powerful three-finger gesture that symbolises the three branches of the trigeminal nerve. The public can join the campaign by capturing this gesture in photographs or videos and sharing them on social media platforms using the hashtags #FaceOfTN and #ShowTN3Fingers.

Emergency Support Network

TNA has partnered with Samaritans to provide essential acute case management, serving as a vital lifeline for those enduring extreme pain. Additional regional support networks are currently being established.

The eyes are often called the windows to the soul, but they are also the gateway to the world. We rely on our vision to experience the beauty of life; yet too often, we take our eyesight for granted. Across the globe, including in India, millions of people still live in the shadows of blindness, their dreams and potential eclipsed by cataracts and other treatable eye conditions.

However, a glimmer of hope shines through the darkness, thanks to outreach camps and organizations dedicated to eradicating blindness. In this blog, we will delve into the remarkable impact of these outreach camps, particularly focusing on the Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation’s efforts in Bhutan, Nepal, and Ghana, to bring light into the lives of those living in the shadow of visual impairment.

Shedding Light on the Global Blindness Crisis

Across the world, millions of people grapple with visual impairments. Before delving into the profound work of outreach camps, it is essential to understand the gravity of the global blindness crisis.

Responsible for robbing 50% of the world’s 40 million blind of their vision, cataracts stand as a silent epidemic, with an impact most severe in developing nations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 2.2 billion people in the world are blind or visually impaired. The leading causes are refractive error and cataracts. In 2020, an estimated 1 billion people lived with preventable or treatable visual impairment, with 90% of them living in low- and middle-income countries.

A Beacon of Hope: Outreach Camps

Outreach camps represent beacons of hope amidst this crisis, reaching out to communities where access to eye care is limited or non-existent. These camps provide screenings, surgeries, and a renewed chance at life for those living with treatable blindness. To understand how these camps are changing lives, let us journey through the remarkable stories of patients from Bhutan, Nepal, and Ghana.

Bhutan: Lighting the Way to a Brighter Future

In Bhutan, a country nestled in the Himalayan Mountains, approximately 7.45% of the population struggles with moderate to severe visual impairments. The shortage of ophthalmologists, with only 8.4 per 1 million people, exacerbates the problem. Bhutan’s cataract surgery rate in 2015 was 1,553 per million, abandoning many in needless blindness. In 2022, the Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation joined hands with the Bhutanese Ministry of Health to embark on a mission to cure 10,000 cases of cataract blindness by 2026.

The foundation has taken an oath to perform 1,000 surgeries annually for five years, reflecting the ministry’s commitment. Through such partnership, the foundation aims to eliminate the stockpile of cataract blindness and also to provide hundreds and thousands out of poverty. Providing such surgeries they are empowering the individuals to make the ultimate transformation in the community.

Nepal: A Draft for Change

Nepal is known for its breathtaking landscapes. As the home of 29.1 million people, 4% of the population is grappling with visual impairment, challenged by the geographical situation.

The Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation commenced its mission in Nepal in March 2021, beginning in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. Their initial screening and curing camp set the stage for remarkable progress, screening 947 people and curing 312 cataract blindness.

Since then, the foundation has made substantial strides, curing 34,197 people in Nepal alone. They have laid the path for lasting social and economic change in collaboration with Dr. Sanduk Ruit and partner hospitals to unravel the potentials of individuals and communities with each survey, thereby transforming lives in the process.

Ghana: A Stroke of Luck in West Africa

Ghana as a nation is plagued with a profound wealth gap, leaving many below the poverty line without access to healthcare or the opportunity to break the cycle of destitution. The IAPB study conducted in 2015 showed that blindness is most prevalent in rural areas of Ghana, where almost 70% of blind individuals lack proper care

In 2022, the Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation extended its reach to Ghana, where they focused on Sub-Saharan Africa’s battle against cataract blindness. Their team has been successful in curing 1,580 people across the nation since September 2022.

Role of Outreach Camps in Changing Lives

Cataracts, which are responsible for half of global blindness cases, are far from being considered mere eye ailments. In developing countries like India, the eye conditions are left in darkness due to financial hardships.

Outreach camps like these organized by the Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation also shine a light on gender disparities. Low literacy levels and a lack of education mean that women are unaware of their blindness treatment. Families often prioritize men’s cataract surgeries, leaving women at risk.

The cost of a cataract surgery, despite being affordable in some of the first world countries, remains a formidable barrier in many underdeveloped regions. The Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation being a savior is breaking the barriers.

During outreach camps in such regions, individuals trapped in needless blindness are identified. These fortunate souls are offered free surgeries, a lifeline to a brighter future. After undergoing cataract surgery, they emerge with restored vision, liberated from the socioeconomic burdens of blindness.

The Power of Compassion and Innovation

Every June, the world observes Cataracts Awareness Month to raise public awareness about this condition. By spreading awareness, we can extend our support to those in need.

The addition of a family member suffering from blindness, like Shanti Maya in Wana Village, can push them further into poverty. Outreach camps provide a lifeline to these hidden communities, offering a glimmer of hope and a path to recovery.

Mitigating the Global Challenge

Cataract surgeries are remarkably cost-effective with the help of some promising NGOs, at a price tag of just $50 per patient and a cure of seven minutes per eye. The Lancet in one of its studies states that curing cataracts can increase a patient’s economic productivity by 1,500% more.

The outreach camps dedicated to eradicating blindness are beacons of hope in a world where millions still suffer needlessly from treatable eye conditions. Through innovative strategies and unwavering commitment, organizations like the Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation are transforming lives in Bhutan, Nepal, Ghana, and beyond.

These camps are unveiling the profound impact of cataract surgeries, which are quick, cost-effective, and offer a lifeline to hidden communities. The stories of individuals like Shanti Maya in Nepal and the countless others touched by these outreach camps illuminate the path to progress.

As we celebrate their remarkable work during Cataracts Awareness Month and beyond, we are reminded of the power of innovation and collaboration. Together, we can envision a world where treatable blindness becomes a relic of the past, replaced by a brighter future.