The most prevalent part of my past year has been the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation. Since March 2021, the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation has been hard at work curing those suffering from cataract blindness throughout the developing world.
After setting our sights on the reduction of extreme poverty and curing blindness, Dr Ruit and myself have ensured that our Foundation works hard to visit more and more isolated corners of the world. Many who live in these marginalised areas are not able to access or afford quality healthcare systems meaning that they continue to suffer needlessly throughout their life.
It is our job, to support those in need and make others aware of the situations that occur globally. Looking back on this year, it has become increasingly apparent that so many people are completely unaware of those who are struggling overseas.
Blindness is severely prevalent in the developing world and there are many, including us, who wish to make a permanent change to that. Unawareness plays a large part in this issue. Not only are the global West fairly unversed on the topic, but it is more than likely that those suffering are also unaware of what is happening to them.
This is due to a lack of knowledge of medical issues. Often, communities that require intervention live in remote areas, tucked away from the cities that we are used to. With this comes to distance, distance from hospitals, medicine and support.
Through the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation’s intervention, we have also found that gender inequity is prevalent in terms of healthcare. It has been shown that households are much more likely to fund the cure of the males in the family rather than the females. It has also been shown that women are much less likely to have a formal education causing them to become much more unaware of health issues that may occur. The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation have taken extra steps to ensure the cure of women in communities. This is achieved by screening everybody, regardless of age or gender, when they arrive at a screening camp. The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation have also consoled patients when they are doubtful about whether or not they should go ahead with the surgery.
Over 2022, the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation has expanded into new countries such as Bhutan and Ghana. Prior to this, most of our work was occurring across Nepal.
Taking our mission to Bhutan in August saw the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation partner with the Bhutanese health ministry under the patronage of the Bhutanese Royal Family. During the visit to Wangude Phodrag and Thimphu, Dr Ruit and I were honoured to spend time with the Royal Queen Grandmother, Her Majesty Gyalyum Kesang Choeden Wangchuck and several senior members of the Bhutanese government. We discussed our goals for the future of eye care in Bhutan and committed to curing 5000 people over the next 5 years.
2022 has also seen us reach a total of 23,458 patients cured. Moving into 2023, we plan to cure thousands more in many more nations such as:
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Tanzania
- Bangladesh
- Indonesia
- Myanmar
- Columbia
Taking our mission to more countries will give the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation a chance to make a difference in the lives of people from all different walks of life.
Throughout my career and life, I have strived to support those in need. My first philanthropic endeavour was supporting children and families in Costa Rica with FundaKohli. 2022 marks 17 years since the genesis of FundaKohli and I am proud to say that the network of canteens set up in 2005 is still active and feeding hundreds of children every day.
This year also saw the Future Bionics branch of the Tej Kohli Foundation take light. Earlier in the year, myself and the families who were supported by the Future Bionics programme spent the day travelling around London celebrating their achievements and their lives. You can read more about that here: Youngsters with bionic arms have incredible day out from billionaire who paid for limbs.
As 2022 draws to a close, it is vital to keep looking ahead. 2023 is already filling up with plans to cure thousands more people of needless cataract blindness across Asia and Africa. To stay up to date with everything that is going on make sure to follow us on social media.
For more information on Tej Kohli as a philanthropist visit tejkohliruit.com and to read more of his views go to his Medium.
To read about Tej Kohli as an investor visit Kohli Ventures.
Find out more about Tej Kohli: Tej Kohli the technologist investing in human triumph, Tej Kohli the philanthropist trying to cure the developing world of cataracts and Tej Kohli the London tycoon with a generous streak.
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