The curtain fell on an extraordinary four-day mega surgical eye camp at Gorakhpur’s 12 Air Force Hospital, the first of its kind in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Indian Army and Air Force doctors expertly handled 374 surgeries, gifting patients a fresh lease on life through restored eyesight.
High-ranking visitors, led by Air Marshal B Manikantan of Central Air Command, marked the conclusion. Surgeon Vice Admiral Aarti Sarin and Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja performed on-site evaluations, commending the seamless execution.
The event magnetized patients from far-flung areas including Siddharthnagar, Azamgarh, Deoria, Maharajganj, rural Gorakhpur, and across the border in Nepal. For local senior citizen Amarnath Gupta, aged 69, it was life-altering—his surgery ended years of vision struggles, allowing him to cherish family anew, much like the other recipients.
Commanding the team was Brigadier (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar Mishra of Army Hospital (Research and Referral), aided by Lt Col Ravi Chauhan, Major Amrita Joshi, and specialists. Cutting-edge gear delivered by Air Force transport ensured top-tier outcomes.
This camp’s legacy extends to policy and practice, spotlighting military contributions to civilian welfare. It paves the way for scalable health interventions, ensuring no one in the region suffers needless blindness.