Which of the following statements about the National Programme for Control of Blindness is true?

Appeared in: Haryana CHO - 2022

Explanation

The National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) was launched in 1976 as a 100% centrally sponsored scheme.
It adopted the goals of the global initiative 'Vision 2020: The Right to Sight'.
The primary goal was to reduce the prevalence of avoidable blindness from 1.4% to 0.3% by the year 2020, making this statement true.

Option B: The NPCB's scope was expanded to include management of emerging causes of blindness.
Option C: The 'School Eye Screening Programme' is a major component of the NPCB, specifically for identifying and correcting refractive errors in children.
Option D: The NPCB actively encourages and provides grants-in-aid to voluntary organizations (NGOs) to increase the reach and delivery of eye care services.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Community health nurses are instrumental in implementing the NPCB at the grassroots level through health education, screening camps, and facilitating referrals.
Nurses play a vital role in the School Eye Screening Programme by training teachers, screening children, and ensuring those with refractive errors receive spectacles.
What if? If a community has a high prevalence of diabetes, the nurse's priority under NPCB would shift to include intensive screening for diabetic retinopathy alongside cataract identification.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the 'National Programme for Control of Blindness' (NPCB).
The question asks for a 'true' statement, so you must evaluate each option for factual accuracy regarding the NPCB.
Recall or deduce the main objectives of national health programs: they typically aim to reduce disease burden, include major causes, target vulnerable populations (like school children), and collaborate with other organizations.
Option A aligns with the goal of reducing disease. Option B suggests exclusion, which is unlikely for a major cause. Option C suggests not covering a key preventive measure. Option D suggests reducing help, which is counterintuitive for a public health program. This initial analysis points towards A being the most plausible answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) pp. 121-123, 122-124, 123-125

Practise the full Haryana CHO - 2022

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