National Eye Donation Fortnight is celebrated every year from August 25 to September 08. Under this, various programs are being organized by the Department of Ophthalmology of Gandhi Medical College to bring awareness among the people about eye donation.
Medical Education Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang informed that in various places in the hospital, emergency medical and trauma blocks and surgery, medicine, external diseases departments and Kamala Nehru Hospital premises were filled with resolution letters for eye donation. In the last 5 years, a total of 1935 Sankalp Patras were filled.
A total of 121 eye donations were made to the Department of Ophthalmology during this period. Eyes have also been received from nearby places including Bhopal. Of these, 59 eye transplants took place. This year also the target is to fill 250 Sankalp Patras.
The department is giving lectures regarding eye donation/organ donation to paramedical, undergraduate and postgraduate students. Quiz related to eye donation information is also being organized among postgraduate students. Slogan and poster competition has been organized for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Over the years, awareness was brought about eye donation among the people by organizing eye tests in schools. This year the event could not take place due to the Covid pandemic. Awareness about eye donation was brought among the people by organizing street plays in hospitals by all the post graduate students.
Social media apps, WhatsApp and Facebook were also used for awareness. Radio, Newspapers and Doordarshan/ TV Programs were organized to spread awareness through Every year in the Department of Ophthalmology, the closing ceremony of Eye Donation Fortnight is organized in honor of the eye donors.