Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) is a rapid survey methodology developed at ICEH. It is a population-based survey of visual impairment and eye care services among people aged 50 years and over.
Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey is the most important survey done by a country. The reports from RAAB shows the actual prevalence of blindness in the country. Clusters are selected by IAPB while surveyor has to check village or city people on the spot to fill out a form. The form has multiple diseases which need to be marked. This RAAB survey training is conducted in Lumbini Eye Institute, Bhairahawa. 3 hospitals i.e. Fateh bal eye hospital, Rapti Eye Hospital, and Shree Rana Ambika Shah Eye Hospital are made to participate. .
The training session is carried out by Mr. Yuddha Dhoj Sapkota, ICEH/LSHTM certified RAAB trainer in Lumbini Eye Institute, Bhairahawa to start the RAAB Survey in Province 5 supported by Seva Foundation and Seva Canada Society. NNJS is planning to conduct the RAAB Survey in all the newly formed province within 8 months from now. Mr. Sapkota is the regional Director of IAPB. RAAB survey was previously conducted in 2010.
The main aims of RAAB are:
- To estimate the prevalence and causes of avoidable blindness and visual impairment in people aged 50 and above
- To assess cataract surgical coverage
- To identify the main barriers to the uptake of cataract surgery
- To measure the outcome after cataract surgery.
Using sound epidemiological methods, these data are used to design and monitor eye care programmes in the surveyed area.
Photo by: Mahesh Aryal, Lumbini Eye Institute
