Mega Hi-tech Congenital and Adult Cataract Surgery Project of Saranda reached a successful conclusion on Saturday with a message 'This pair of small eyes; helps in saying big things' in the presence of Union Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh and Governor, Syed Ahmad.
Talking about the surgery project of Saranda, Ramesh said, "In the remote villages, in the dense saal reserve, development is still a far cry and in two decades this project became a ray of hope for the people residing there."
The results not only exceeded the expectations of number of patients treated but also the organiser Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital, with a record 325 patients successfully receiving cataract surgery.
Governor who had suffered from cataract shared his experience with the patients and other dignitaries said, "When I was diagnosed with Cataract, I felt that how can I suffer from it at such age; but I came to know that people with eye wound are more prone to cataract." He further advised the patients, "Eyes are delicate and precious .Good care will keep them going for years. Sight is our most precious sense. A large part of our ability to perceive the world around us depends on it."
During the camp, the team of doctors and paramedical staff from the Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital, led by director of the hospital Bharti Kashyap, worked tirelessly performing hi-tech cataract surgery with foldable intraocular lens.
Bharti Kashyap who has worked determinedly in this project said, "This is just the beginning we need to work incessantly with utter dedication to bring people out of the dark and provide them vision to see this beautiful world. The process could be speeded up if there is a support from the State Government to provide facility to the destitute at their doorstep."
The programme has also evoked awareness among the people in the region. Over 32 per cent of people in Saranda forest in Jharkhand are suffering from cataract. There are no hospitals, no healthcare centres and no one to turn to when one is ill. Due to poverty and malnutrition kids are more prone to cataract. A number of children even have stopped going to school due to eye problems. Mid-aged Balram Gope and his wife Sohagi's, four sons suffered from congenital cataract, caused either due to viral infection or acute malnutrition of the mother at the time of birth. Though the parents have normal sight, children were born with cataract.
Under this project, Hi-tech cataract surgery with foldable intra-ocular lens had been performed on two of the children only as the other two are severely affected by malarial parasites.
The success of this event was founded on the efforts of many people working together to achieve a common goal. The organiser of this event, Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital expressed their utmost gratitude to all who have helped in this cause and special award of appreciation was given away to Vice President and Secretary, Red Cross Society- Pradeep Prasari and Kanhaiya Agarwal, District Social Welfare Officer, Chaibasa- Kameshwar Jha, SDO, Manoharpur- P.B lakra, Sunil Nayak-Head of Anganwadi Sevika and Dr. Preetish Pronoy and Dr. Ruby Choudhary by the Union Rural Development Minister and Governor of the state respectively.