Itanagar: In a major step towards strengthening healthcare access in India’s easternmost frontier, the Arunachal Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), in collaboration with the state unit of the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), has formally adopted Kaho village in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district to provide free and universal eye care services to all residents.
Kaho, located in the Kibithoo circle near the Indo-Tibet (China) border, is widely recognised as India’s easternmost village.
Situated barely 8–10 kilometres from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) along the banks of the Lohit River, the small hamlet is home to about 75–100 residents, mainly from the Meyor community.
The village has also gained prominence under the Vibrant Villages programme as a model border settlement witnessing gradual infrastructure development.
State NPCBVI programme officer Dr Taba Khanna said the adoption represents a focused effort to eliminate preventable blindness in one of the country’s most remote and strategically significant regions.
Under the initiative, regular eye screening camps will be organised, covering diagnosis and treatment of common conditions such as cataract, refractive errors and glaucoma.
Free spectacles will be distributed, while patients requiring advanced treatment, including surgeries, will be referred to specialised centres.
Awareness programmes on eye hygiene and early detection of visual disorders will also form a key component of the project.
AAO president Dr D Kaling Darang said border villages like Kaho face serious healthcare access challenges due to difficult terrain, long distances and limited connectivity.
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He stated that the objective of adopting the village is to ensure comprehensive and lifelong eye care for every resident, irrespective of age or economic background, without imposing any financial burden.
Dr Darang added that the initiative aligns with the goals of the NPCBVI and supports the broader vision of achieving “Eye Health for All” across Arunachal Pradesh’s frontier regions.
The academy will conduct screening and awareness camps at two-month intervals in Kaho and nearby areas, with regular follow-ups to track progress toward complete eye health coverage.
Officials said the sustained adoption model is expected to serve as a replicable framework for other remote villages under the Vibrant Villages initiative.
Local leaders and residents have welcomed the move, saying improved eye care services will significantly enhance quality of life in a community that is gradually emerging with tourism potential and strengthened strategic infrastructure.
