B. Alphones, Field Supervisor, Programme Impact, Mission for Vision

I used to work as a warden in a hostel earlier and I still recall how the young boys used to trouble me with their regular mischief. They used to steal the coconuts from the neighbour’s gardens and I had to hear the complaints and yelling from the owners. They used to often sneak out of their rooms and return quite late in the night. When I used to complain about these students, they used to threaten that they would beat me black and blue. I wished and prayed for a job that offered me peace of mind and away from these trouble-makers. 

My prayers were soon answered and the gateway was my volunteering stint with the Tulsi Trust in 1998. There was an eye-screening camp being organised in my area and I decided to lend a hand. I enjoyed the volunteering activity and it gave me a sense of pride and identity. Taking note of my active participation, I was offered a job opportunity at the Tulsi Trust. The organisation has been instrumental in providing quality and affordable healthcare; skill development and enhance the quality of education for financially-challenged communities. True to my interest and passion, I joined as a Camp Coordinator and was responsible to arrange health camps and mobilise communities. 

Observing the linkage between enhanced sight and poverty alleviation, Tulsi Trust decided to establish an eye-health focused organisation called Mission for Vision (MFV) in the year 2000. Since I was primarily working on eye health projects, I decided to transition from the parent entity (Tulsi Trust) to Mission for Vision. As a Field Supervisor with the Programme Impact team, my role involves reaching out to communities to gauge their feedback regarding their surgery at the hospital or the screening activities undertaken in their region by MFV and its partners. I built an instant connection with these patients and community members. They usually welcome me to their homes and treat me as their family member. It is quite humorous when they address me as “Doctor” inspite of me having clarified several times to them that I am not a doctor. 

Addressing the Covid Curve

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was compelled to stay at home. I was eagerly waiting to get out there and help my community members, but someone correctly said “Protect yourself first before helping others”.

As soon as the lockdown was eased out, MFV arranged for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and we were trained thoroughly on the safety guidelines. Initially, I found the masks were uneasy and due to extreme heat condition in South India, our visors/face shields used to heat up quickly. However, I got used to it gradually and thought of a few innovative methods to get adjusted to the “New Normal”.

Though I heard about resistance from communities across India in allowing outsiders and healthcare workers, I was pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome I received. Taking cognizance of the distancing norms, I spoke to them and made them aware of the new guidelines in relation to the pandemic. In my interactions with them, I realised that the temporary suspension had created a greater need for primary eye care for these communities. Along with eye health awareness, I am glad that I got the opportunity to create awareness about COVID-19. 

I am very happy that I am able to meet and interact with the community members and it gives me immense pleasure that I am a part of an organisation that is bringing about social change for socio-economically challenged communities in the remotest locations of the country.