Tanda Medical College organises eye donation fortnight
Author(s): Arvind SharmaDharamshala, September 10, 2019: In an effort to create awareness regarding eye donation an “Eye donation fortnight” was organised by the department of Ophthalmology from 25th August to 8th September at Dr.RP Government...
Dharamshala, September 10, 2019: In an effort to create awareness regarding eye donation an “Eye donation fortnight” was organised by the department of Ophthalmology from 25th August to 8th September at Dr.RP Government Medical College Tanda, near here.
“The fortnight long celebration was aimed at generating awareness on eye donation among general masses”, said Professor Bhanu Awasthi, Principal Dr.RP Government Medical College Tanda.
In this regard the department of ophthalmology organised a “poster making competition” for MBBS students. The students prepared posters highlighting the importance of Eye donation and these were displayed in the department for creating awareness among general public. A Skit displaying the importance of eye donation was presented by the nursing students of the college, in the foyer of the hospital. The message of eye donation was imparted to the public gathered there through this well prepared skit.
Dr Bhanu added, “According to the NPCB there are about 1 lack bilaterally corneal blind people in addition to much larger number of unilateral corneal bind people in our country, for which at least 2 lack donations are required per year, considering the fact that only 50% corneas can be utilized for transplantation. At present only 35,000 to 40,000 eyes are being collected in the country. The reasons for low eyes being collected are mainly false perceptions and myths prevailing among the people regarding eye donations.”
He added that the department is at the forefront of eye donation with 222 donors available now. In addition the department has carried out four keratoplasty procedures where in the graft has been taken from a recently dead individual.