28/11/2023. PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk or BNI in collaboration with Yayasan Pundi Amal Peduli Kasih (YPP) SCTV Indosiar held a cataract surgery social service in four locations in Eastern Indonesia with a target of 450 eyes receiving assistance.
Based on data collected by the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) 2014-2016 by the Indonesian Ophthalmologist Association (Perdami) and the Ministry of Health's Research and Development Agency, the blindness rate in Indonesia reached 3% and as much as 81% was caused by cataracts.
In addition, in an effort to reduce the prevalence of visual impairment nationally, one of the government's program efforts as stated in the Roadmap of Visual Impairment Control Program in Indonesia 2017 - 2030 document is to reduce the prevalence of visual impairment due to cataracts, while still making efforts to overcome visual impairment with other causes.
BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo said, by looking at the data of cataract sufferers, of course it has become the responsibility of various parties to jointly prevent blindness due to cataracts together with the government.
"We realize that cataract is an eye disorder that can affect people's performance. Although it is operable, not everyone has access to good health facilities," said Okki.
He further said that this social service activity is a tangible manifestation of the company's commitment to improving the quality of public health and efforts to reduce the number of blindness due to cataracts in Indonesia.
BNI started this social service series in Sumbawa Regency, NTB which was held at HL Hospital. Manambai Abdulkadir on November 24-26, 2023. YPP SCTV Indosiar has collaborated with Perdami to target 150 eyes from people in the Sumbawa Regency area.
Okki disclosed that the company continues to be committed to being present on the side of the community in all aspects, one of which is in the health sector.
"BNI strives to consistently contribute to reducing the number of blindness due to cataract disease in Indonesia so that it continues to decrease from time to time," Okki said.