ABOUT a month ago, I was walking through villages in Bihar, a remote and poverty-stricken area that few people will have heard of.

Many Bihari children in remote places show signs of Vitamin A deficiency as a result of poor diet and lack of measles vaccination. This can result in irreversible blindness
Many Bihari children in remote places show signs of vitamin A deficiency as a result of poor diet and lack of measles vaccination. This can result in irreversible blindness (Francisca van Holthoon)

This is where UK-based charity Second Sight started a blindness eradication programme 25 years ago.

Why Bihar? Because it has the biggest blindness backlog in the entire world.

Many people ask me how I got involved in Second Sight. Like most major life events, it was the result of a chance encounter.

After a funeral I got talking to Lucy Mathen, an ophthalmologist who had just started Second Sight.

When he discovered I had rudimental Hindi, she roped me in.

Over time, Second Sight has built up a network of carefully selected eye hospitals in Bihar.

Vision screening in a remote area
Vision screening by Babul in a remote area (Francisca van Holthoon)

These are no ordinary hospitals. They are run by people for whom curing blindness is a priority. Totally different from the many profit-driven private clinics that have mushroomed in Bihar in recent years.

I have just completed my 11th field trip to Bihar. My main observation is that the Indian government has poured lots of money into eye care in Bihar, but that it simply does not hit the spot.

The so-called Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme, which in theory entitles people below the poverty line free surgery, does not benefit "our" patients, who don't have the wherewithal to get an Ayushman card.

The blind get left behind, nothing new there. The only way to tackle the blindness problem head on is by doing systematic, hut-to-hut outreach in remote areas and providing transport to and from the base eye hospital for free, sight-restoring treatment.

Going from hut to hut
Going from hut to hut (Francisca van Holthoon)

As I am writing this, at my desk in Coleford, one experience stands out.

During our visit to Bamdah Christian Mission Hospital, which was started by Scottish missionary doctors over 10 years ago, the resident doctor Samuel Murmu spotted my violin case and suggested a round of carol singing.

Carols in Bamdah Christian Missionary Hospital in December 2024
Carols in Bamdah Christian Missionary Hospital in December 2024 (Francisca van Holthoon)

We were joined by his wife and son and soon the ancient bungalow resounded with Christmas tunes. Two guitars, a violin and some hearty voices. The Scottish missionaries would have smiles, I am sure!

Back home, my main contribution is to raise funds. The next big event is a performance of St John Passion by Bach in the Holy Cross Church in Crediton on February 15 at 6pm.

Tickets are available from: ticketsource.co.uk/creditonartscentre.

I hope to see you there and perhaps someone could take some footage of the concert so we can send it back to Dr Samuel. Now that will put a smile on his face!

Francisca Van Holthoon