Basant appreciates eye donation campaign being run by Punarjot Eye Bank Society

Ludhiana, September 4, 2021: During the 36th National Eye Donation Awareness Fortnight, a seminar was organized by Punarjot Eye Bank Society Ludhiana at Dr. Ramesh Super Specialty Eye and Laser Center, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, Ludhiana.  

Bhupinder Singh Basant, Senior Vice Chairman, Punjab Traders Board (Excise and Taxation) was the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Basant while praising the eye donation campaign being run by Punarjot Eye Bank Society Ludhiana said that he would brought this to the notice of Punjab Chief Minister. 

He said he would suggest to the chief minister to honour personalities like Dr Ramesh on some suitable occasions so that other people and NGOs might take inspiration from them.

Basant lauded the efforts of the Society and Dr Ramesh as well and stated that eye donation was considered a great donation because the eyes of a dead person can give light to the eyes of two people. He said it was a great effort to motivate others to come forward and donate their eyes. He said he always stood behind Dr Ramesh and his Society to make all out efforts to extend all possible help to the Society from the government. 

Dr. Ramesh said that we have been working for a noble cause of eye donation for the last three decades and are providing completely free cornea transplant surgeries to all the needy patients in North India with unparalleled performance.  We have received 7700 eye donations which is the highest in this area.

Adding, Dr Ramesh said this year we are going to organize the above fortnight in a new way to create awareness in the society especially among the emerging ophthalmologists of India so that they can participate in India's National Blindness Control Program, especially Carnial Blindness.  It will be a unique and first of its kind in the world.  This carnival will teach the problems of blindness, how to deal with them, and the importance of public participation, dedication and motivation to NGOs, a new generation of doctors to make India a cornea blind country.

More than 1.50 lakh prizes in the form of medical books, surgical instruments will be given to ophthalmology students to honor their participation.  NGO and special awards would also be given to the youth of Punjab.

Dr. Ramesh said that Punarjot had sensitized the students about eye donation in schools and colleges so that they would further inform at least 10 people in the society and family that 6 to 8 hours after the death of eyes.  Donations can be made in even today in India, one crore living eyes are burnt to ashes after death.  While about 3 million blind people suffering from iris disease are always waiting for a family to be able to see the world by donating the safe eyes of their departed relatives.  Our eyes can survive death and give light to two blind people.

Sara Mattoo, an Associate Degree of Science student from Canada, appealed to the youth to come forward in the eye donation campaign.