Local residents waiting for eye check-ups at an integrated health screening camp
In Savar and Dhamrai, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh,
many people struggle to receive timely eye care.
For residents living far from medical facilities,
the cost of treatment and transportation can make it difficult
to get the care they need when they need it.
Heart to Heart Foundation is improving access to eye care closer to remote areas.
Through a community-based approach,
we help patients move from early detection to appropriate treatment
— and ultimately, back to their everyday lives.
Eye care service delivery system at a glance
To ensure no one is left behind simply because they cannot travel to hospitals,
Heart to Heart Foundation supports local health workers in providing
basic eye examinations at community clinics on a regular basis.
In areas located far from health facilities,
ophthalmologists also travel directly to the underserved areas
through integrated health screening camps.
(Left) A resident receiving a vision test at a community clinic
/ (Right) A resident receiving an eye exam from an ophthalmologist at an integrated health screening camp
When significant vision loss or eye diseases are detected during basic screenings,
patients are referred to the Savar and Dhamrai Community Eye Centers (CECs)
for further examination and consultation.
Patients who need specialized treatment for conditions
such as cataracts or diabetic retinopathy are then referred
to tertiary hospitals to receive the advanced surgery and specialized treatment they need.
Finding the right treatment is only part of the journey.
For many patients, getting to the hospital can be a challenge.
For many older people, people with disabilities, and those facing financial difficulties,
reaching a hospital can be difficult enough to keep them from getting the care they need.
Patients being transported to a tertiary hospital / Patients waiting for follow-up care
To prevent patients from giving up on their treatment,
Heart to Heart Foundation provides dedicated transportation support.
By breaking down these physical and financial barriers,
we ensure that patients can transition smoothly
from screening to necessary surgical procedures and treatments.
Up to 90% of vision loss is preventable with timely detection and proper treatment.
Cataracts and diabetic retinopathy are among the major eye conditions
that can cause severe vision loss and blindness.
As early detection of such condition is important,
continued follow-up and care also play an important role in protecting vision.
A cataract patient’s eye / A patient with diabetic retinopathy having their retina photographed
Heart to Heart Foundation supports not only surgery and treatment,
but also the follow-up care and management patients need,
helping them continue their treatment journey through to recovery.
Rani Dash, an 80-year-old woman from Savar,
was one of the patients in urgent need of treatment.
Rani had lost her vision due to severe cataracts in both eyes two years ago.
However, she could not receive surgery
because she had no one to take her to the hospital
and could not afford the cost of treatment.
Rani receiving a follow-up examination after cataract surgery
It was during this time that Rani had the opportunity
to join an integrated health screening camp in her community.
After being identified as needing urgent treatment,
she was transported to a tertiary hospital and underwent cataract surgery.
Rani is now recovering well and gradually returning to her daily life.
In 2026, in the Savar and Dhamrai areas:
- 60 patients received cataract surgery
- 8 patients are currently receiving treatment for diabetic retinopathy
Partnership agreement with a Gonoshasthaya Samaj Vittik Medical College hospital
This year, Heart to Heart Foundation also signed an agreement
with a local medical college hospital
to help cataract patients at risk of blindness, like Rani, receive surgery more quickly.
In the second half of the year,
we will continue to expand our efforts to support more patients
in receiving the treatment they need.
Patients waiting for follow-up care
Before treatment, some of our patients could barely perceive light
or a hand waving in front of their face
and were unable to read even the numbers on a vision chart.
After surgery, however, many patients recovered their vision,
with visual acuity reaching 0.5 to as high as 1.0.
They can now recognize their loved ones, walk on their own,
and see the familiar surroundings of their neighborhood again.
Eye care is more than a medical service.
For many patients, it is a first step back to their own life through their own eyes.
Heart to Heart Foundation will keep working to bring it to those who can’t easily reach it.
Patients whose vision improved after cataract surgery
From Early Detection to Treatment,
Back to Everyday Life.
Please join Heart to Heart Foundation’s journey to bring better eye health and new possibilities to communities across Bangladesh.
Together for Better Vision!
<The project “Strengthening Primary Eye Health through an Integrated People-Centered Approach
in Dhaka District, Bangladesh” (2025–2027) is being implemented
through a partnership between the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Heart to Heart Foundation.>
