Clearing the Path to Higher Ground

Mr. Ram Prasad Kandel talking with patients after their cataract surgeries.

Ram Prasad Kandel Retires After 25 Years of Caring Service

It’s not hyperbole to say there ain’t no mountain high enough to deter Seva’s Nepal Program Director, Ram Prasad Kandel. For the past 25-plus years, he’s been on the road with Seva, traversing hilly terrain and rough roads in Nepal, India, and Cambodia to support eye camps, establish Vision Centers, and connect with the people who come seeking help.

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Welcome Dr. Binita Sharma

Seva is pleased to officially welcome Dr. Binita Sharma to the staff as the Country Director in Nepal. 

Dr. Sharma transitioned from Seva Foundation’s clinical advisor for programs in Nepal to the Country Director, picking up where Ram Prasad Kandel left off.

Dr. Sharma was the Chief Medical Director at Kirtipur Eye Hospital for three years; she has been working as an ophthalmologist for the last 10 years, with a fellowship in Cornea and a special interest in community ophthalmology. Working both at a clinical and academic level, she is at the forefront of eye care and health in Nepal. With a strong passion for community and communication, Dr. Binita works to bring eye health to those most in need.  

She enjoys interacting with people,  and she’s a firm believer that communication and teamwork is the key to an effective outcome in any field.

“I believe it is in the heart of the community that we need to reach – where there are patients who do not realize that their blinding condition is treatable”

New Vision Centers: Mobilizing Towards Eye Health Equity

Last year, Seva and partners established 30 new vision centers across Bangladesh, Guatemala, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, and the United States. Of these, we are thrilled to share that 26 have been inaugurated.

Vision Center inaugurations are attended by local leaders who introduce the eye professionals and paraprofessionals to the people they serve. By doing so, they build trust and promote the importance of proper eye care. It also helps to normalize eye care throughout the region and spread the word that treatment and care are now accessible.

MODO does more to bring eye care to all! 

MODO, an international eyewear company, has been vital to helping Seva increase access to eye care globally. In 2018, Seva made a commitment to screen one million children and provide all necessary follow-up care by December 2020. This undertaking was supported by Seva’s corporate partner, MODO, and other Seva supporters. 

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Start-ups aren’t the only ones disrupting old patterns …

Photo: Pristine 5.0 Retinal Camera (formerly Vistaro) in action.

When you think of “disruptive and revolutionary tech,” what comes to mind?

Major companies, start-ups, a laboratory on the brink of discovery – but what about nonprofits?

You read that right, nonprofits. We know nonprofits don’t often come top of mind as being “disruptive,” but we’re here to paint a new picture. Compassion has always been an important driver of innovation at Seva.

At Seva, we invest in a suite of cutting-edge and revolutionary technologies to create a world free of avoidable blindness. Leveraging millions of data points, four decades of experience, and a network of leading public health experts, engineers, and physicians, our best-in-class tech solutions revolutionize the way eye care is delivered worldwide.

“We operate at the scale of a major corporation and the nimbleness of a start-up. Straddling this balance is disrupting the future of ophthalmology and public health – for good”.

– Kate Moynihan, Executive Director, Seva Foundation.

This is the new frontier of compassion driven eye care tech that you support:

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Unending Circles of Joy

Photo: Mercedes with her mother (left), Sandhya (right).

You create virtuous cycles of joy.

In these busy times, it might be easy to forget how much of a difference you create.

But we, and the people we serve, will never forget.

Your generosity, combined with others like you, made it possible for millions of moms, dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles halfway across the world to step into 2023 with better lives.

Every time you choose to restore sight you initiate a virtuous cycle of joy that enables people to return to school, work, and support their families and communities. The caretaker can also pursue an independent career once he/she is relieved of the responsibility. At this very moment, 15-year-old Sandhya Dhital from Nepal, who got her sight back, is studying in a classroom. 28-year-old Mercedes Leguizamòn from Peru, who for years struggled to see, is able to support her children again.

I am here to let you know that we hear you, we see you and we are very thankful for your trust in us to do the work we do. Every click, every share, donation, thought, or note received is felt, seen, and heard. Compassion is a cornerstone to how Seva is possible, and how we set in motion the circle of joy.

Onward & Upward,

Kate Moynihan
CEO/Executive Director