BY: Nadeem Faisal Baiga
HAVELIAN, District Abbottabad: A new state-of-the-art ophthalmology facility established with Japanese grant assistance was inaugurated here today, marking a major milestone in improving access to quality eye healthcare in the region. His Excellency Mr. Akamatsu Shuichi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, officially inaugurated the facility.
The project has been constructed and is being managed by the Lok Sudhar Association with financial support from Japan under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) program. A grant of US$51,407, approved in 2024, was utilized for the construction of the facility and the procurement of modern diagnostic and surgical equipment, enabling services such as cataract surgeries to be provided locally for the first time.
During his visit, Ambassador Akamatsu toured the eyecare center in Havelian, Abbottabad, which is delivering essential eye treatments and sight-restoring cataract surgeries to the local community.
The facility addresses the urgent healthcare needs of more than 350,000 residents of Tehsil Havelian and surrounding areas. In its first year of operation, the center has already treated nearly 30,000 patients and successfully conducted 1,260 cataract surgeries, significantly reducing the financial and physical burden on elderly and vulnerable patients who previously had to travel long distances for specialized eye care.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Ambassador Akamatsu congratulated the Lok Sudhar Association on the successful completion of the project. “The provision of affordable healthcare is a top priority in Japan’s assistance policy toward Pakistan,” he said, emphasizing that access to quality medical treatment is essential for social and economic well-being. He reaffirmed Japan’s continued support for improving living standards in Pakistan and expressed hope that the project would further strengthen the longstanding friendship between the people of Japan and Pakistan.
The Lok Sudhar Association, which has over 25 years of experience in community development, implemented the project. The inauguration ceremony was attended by officials from the Embassy of Japan, members of the NGO’s board, and representatives of the local community.
About GGP: Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) supports community-based initiatives aimed at meeting basic human needs, with a particular focus on health, education, and social welfare.
