While attending the recent IAPB “2030 IN SIGHT LIVE” global conference in Mexico City, Megan Webber, Co-Founder of KnowTheGlow, had the joy of being introduced to Elizabeth Kurian the CEO of Mission for Vision (MFV), a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating
needless visual impairment and blindness, enhancing sight and eradicating poverty through comprehensive eye care solutions in India. Ms. Kurian has been working with Mission for Vision for over 10 years and has been a key player in advocating for the eradication of avoidable blindness for more than 20 years, previously serving as the Global Director of Advocacy and CEO of Sightsavers-India.
After the IAPB conference, Megan and Elizabeth’s team set a meeting to speak about the potential collaboration between Mission for Vision and Know the Glow, which is committed to running yearly awareness campaigns throughout India. Elizabeth was joined by Dr. Sheetal Gangurde and Sabitra Kundu who serve as Programme Manager and Head of Programme
Development for Mission for Vision, respectively. Currently, MFV is expanding its reach and impact across India, collaborating with 26 partners and 42 eye hospitals spread across 190 districts in 24 states. The organization has served over 19.96 million individuals and performed more than 3 million eye surgeries, crucially at no cost to patients. This effort underscores Elizabeth’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality eye care services, particularly for underserved communities.
One of Mission for Vision’s primary program initiatives, Mission Jeevan, an ongoing awareness and support campaign for Retinoblastoma, caught the KTG team’s eye! Spearheaded by Dr. Gangurde, Mission Jeevan is focused on the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Retinoblastoma in infants, in association with Wen Giving Foundation. “Jeevan” is the Sanskrit word for “life” or “living.” In addition to receiving quality medical treatment at partners PBMA’s HV Desai Eye Hospital and Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, patients and their families are also offered emotional support, help covering travel and treatment related expenses, and networking with other patient families. This emotional component is key in reducing the number of patients who abandon treatment. Dr. Gangurde has found that many patients abandon treatment at the beginning if the procedures needed are too intimidating. This counseling helps the patient’s family to understand both the severity of the diseases but also the hope that the treatments provide for the patient and their future.
Beyond her professional achievements, Elizabeth is recognized for her leadership in the field, having received the 2020 Vision Excellence Award from IAPB for her outstanding contributions to eye care and public health. Elizabeth is also deeply engaged in policy advocacy, serving as a member of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on SPECS 2030, which aims to enhance access to refractive error services globally. Her role as a board member at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), L V Prasad Eye Institute, and the Optometry Council of India underscores her influence in shaping national and international eye care policies. The KTG team is excited to talk further regarding ways KTG can add to the evolving Mission Jeevan initiative and continue to spread awareness about the many eye conditions the Glow can signify.
