New York, May 24, 2025 — Himalayan Hope Network contributed $5,005 in support of renowned Nepali ophthalmologist Dr. Sanduk Ruit and his humanitarian work to prevent and cure avoidable blindness.
The contribution was presented to Dr. Ruit during his visit to New York on May 24, 2025. On behalf of Himalayan Hope Network, the United Sherpa Association (USA) Inc. handed over the funds to support Dr. Ruit’s ongoing efforts to expand access to affordable, high-quality eye care for underserved communities.
Dr. Sanduk Ruit is an internationally recognized ophthalmologist from Nepal and a pioneer in making modern cataract surgery accessible to people in low-resource and remote communities. He co-founded the Himalayan Cataract Project in 1995, together with Dr. Geoffrey Tabin. The organization is now known as the Cure Blindness Project, whose mission is to eliminate avoidable blindness by developing high-quality, cost-effective and sustainable eye-care systems in underserved areas around the world.
Dr. Ruit also helped establish the Tilganga Eye Center in Kathmandu in 1994 and pioneered methods for delivering high-quality cataract microsurgery in remote settings. His approach has helped make sight-restoring treatment accessible to people who otherwise might never have been able to afford or reach specialized eye care. His humanitarian achievements have earned him numerous international honors, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding.
The Cure Blindness Project, which grew from Dr. Ruit and Dr. Tabin’s work in Nepal, has expanded internationally. Its approach combines sight-restoring surgery and treatment with the training of local eye-care professionals and investment in sustainable eye-care infrastructure. The organization reports that its work and partnerships have now contributed to millions of surgeries, screenings and treatments across numerous countries.
During his May 2025 U.S. tour, Dr. Ruit was also raising awareness and support for the expansion of the intraocular lens (IOL) manufacturing facility in Nepal. The Tilganga facility produces affordable, high-quality lenses used in cataract surgery, and more than 6.5 million eyes worldwide have received lenses manufactured through this initiative.
Himalayan Hope Network is honored to have supported this extraordinary humanitarian mission. Restoring eyesight does more than help an individual see again—it can restore independence, dignity, opportunity and hope for an entire family.
The $5,005 contribution reflects Himalayan Hope Network’s commitment to supporting meaningful humanitarian and healthcare initiatives that create lasting positive change in Nepal and beyond.