Defence Secretary Reviews Landmark Military Eye Care Mission in Bhuj, Gujarat

BHUJ, GUJARAT Feb 05, 2026 — In a significant boost to border area development and public health outreach, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, IAS, visited the ongoing Surgical Eye Camp Outreach Programme at the Military Hospital in Bhuj. Accompanied by Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command, the Defence Secretary assessed the large-scale medical initiative aimed at providing specialized care to some of the most remote regions in Gujarat. The high-level visit underscores the Ministry of Defence’s commitment to integrating advanced medical technology with community welfare in strategically vital frontier zones.

The outreach programme has achieved remarkable scale, with specialist military ophthalmic teams from the prestigious Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, screening over 2,500 patients hailing from more than 120 isolated villages. Through meticulous surgical interventions, the team has successfully restored vision to over 200 beneficiaries, effectively delivering world-class eye care to the farthest reaches of the state. During the visit, the Defence Secretary lauded the Southern Command for its dedication to the Indian Army’s nation-building mandate, praising the seamless combination of medical excellence and humanitarian compassion used to strengthen and support border communities.