Hemalatha

Hemalatha, an eighth standard student from the Peenya in Bangalore, was struck by typhoid when she was just three days old. This affected her optic nerves, leaving her blind in the right eye and with very low vision in the left. Her parents took her to many different hospitals, but each time the answer was the same – that there was no hope of improvement in her eye condition.

Hemalatha came under the care of Sankara Eye Hospital, a Sightsavers’ supported partner, through the Hospital’s school screening programme – Nanna Kannu. While a complete cure was not possible for her, the Hospital treated her condition and helped her by giving her low vision devices to enable her to read and learn. The Hospital constantly monitors her eye condition.

Today, Hemalatha can attend a regular school and at home she can manage most routine tasks on her own. She is keen on completing her studies and wants to become a policewoman when she is older.