Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choeden Wangchuck inaugurated the Gyalyum Kesang Choeden Wangchuck National Eye Centre in Thimphu yesterday.
Members of Royal Family also graced the inaugural ceremony.
The country’s first eye centre, named in honour of Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother will provide specialized eye care services and develop sub-specialization in Ophthalmology in the country.
The centre will house 16 beds in four Aseptic wards, specialized OPD and in-patient eye services, three Operation Theaters, and other amenities necessary to provide effective services. The centre is also expected to build the capacity of health professionals in the country.
According to the health minister, the centre will start functioning from today.
“There is inpatient facility so they can carry out a lot of surgeries, we want to bring expertise from the region especially through the Himalayan cataract programme so that the doctors, specialized doctor can come here, perform the surgery, our own health worker will manage the cases and they will go back,” the Health Minister Dechen Wangmo, said.
The establishment of the eye centre is technically supported by the Himalayan Cataract Project led by Dr Sanduk Ruit, recipient of the National Order of Merit in December 2015, and funded by Wen Giving Foundation.
The construction of the centre, which was started in 2017, was built at a cost of USD 1.6 M.
Samten Dolkar
