Sanduk Ruit is the name that brings hope, healing, and humanitarianism to ophthalmology. Starting from a very humble background to becoming an international pioneer in eye care surgery, Sanduk Ruit’s journey has been the epitome of tenacity and compassion. He is also known as the “God of Sight.”The scope of the present article will be to outline the life, awards, and achievements of this visionary surgeon devoted to the eponymous restoration of sight and transformation of lives.
QUICK FACTS
- Born: September 4, 1954, in Olangchung Gola, Nepal.
- Education: Studied medicine in India and completed his ophthalmology training at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.
- Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology: Co-founded this institute in Kathmandu in 1994, which serves as a major center for eye care and training.
- Awards: Recipient of numerous international awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2006.
- Technique: His cataract surgery technique costs as little as $25 and has been adopted in over 30 countries.
- Philanthropy: Known for conducting numerous eye camps in remote and underserved areas.
- Books: The subject of the book “The Barefoot Surgeon” by Ali Gripper.
- Recognition: Often referred to as the “God of Sight” for his contributions to eye health and humanitarian work.
Early Life and Education:
Sanduk Ruit comes from a small, remote village in the hilly district of Solukhumbu of Nepal, a place where the Himalayas lord majestically over the lives of common people. From his birth, growing up in meager circumstances, he felt a deep sense of sympathy for the disadvantaged and developed an intense desire to do something great for them in life. Defying all odds, Sanduk completed his ophthalmic studies at the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.
Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology:
In 1994, with a vow to eradicate preventable blindness, Sanduk Ruit founded the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in Kathmandu. It has extended state-of-the-art eye care services and surgical interventions to millions of people with treatable eye conditions.
Revolutionizing Eye Care with the ‘Nepal Method’:
The “Nepal Method” or “Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS)” pioneered by Sanduk Ruit has revived global ophthalmology. This is a pocket-friendly operation method that can be used to perform very accurate cataract operations even in low-resource environments.
Global Impact and Humanitarian Contributions:
Dr. Sanduk Ruit’s charismatic trait of compassion does not just extend to the land of Nepal; he travels, almost tirelessly, in the run-down, poverty-stricken sections of the world, restoring vision through surgery to the underprivileged masses. This untiring commitment won him several accolades and awards, among them the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award and the Padma Shri from India, which is one of the highest civilian honors in that country.
Legacy and Inspirational Leadership:
Sanduk Ruit had become one of the globally reputed surgeons, an admired figure, and a great human being with humanitarian work par excellence. His massive efforts toward giving people their sights back are a testimony to his ability to change the lives of his fellow humans.
Sanduk Ruit’s extraordinary life journey from a remote village in Nepal to the world podium in ophthalmology epitomizes what can be achieved by a triad of compassion, innovation, and dedication. As much as we celebrate his great life, let us go a little further and deify the fact that he handed down his perfected humanity with care, brilliant work, and service to humankind.
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