When was the National Programme for Control of Blindness launched?

Appeared in: Punjab CHO - 2021

Explanation

The National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) was officially launched in 1976.
It was established as a 100% centrally sponsored program to combat the high prevalence of blindness in India.
The primary goal at its inception was to reduce the rate of blindness from 1.4% to 0.3% of the population.
This program integrated the earlier National Trachoma Control Programme, which started in 1963.

Option A: 1963 is the launch year for the National Trachoma Control Programme.
Option B: While the 1970s were a significant decade for health programs (e.g., Vitamin A Prophylaxis in 1970, ICDS in 1975), 1972 is not the launch year for the NPCB.
Option C: The NPCB was already established and operational by 1982. This year is incorrect.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Launch Years of National Health Programs in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are integral to the success of the NPCBVI by participating in community eye screening camps, identifying individuals with cataracts or refractive errors, and referring them for treatment.
Health education is a key nursing role. This includes teaching communities about eye hygiene, nutritional diets rich in Vitamin A to prevent night blindness, and the importance of seeking early treatment for eye problems.
Nurses provide essential pre-operative and post-operative care for patients undergoing cataract surgery, which is the most common intervention under this program.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of important dates in India's public health history.
First, identify the specific program mentioned in the question: 'National Programme for Control of Blindness'.
Scan the options, which are all years, indicating you need to remember a specific date.
Recall the timeline of major Indian health programs. It's helpful to group them by decade or in chronological order.
Associate the National Programme for Control of Blindness with the year 1976. Differentiating it from the earlier Trachoma Control Programme (1963) is key to avoiding the most common error.
Select the option that matches the correct year.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 121-123

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-275 of 550) p. 275-500

Practise the full Punjab CHO - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.