After realising the fact that participation in blood donation camps is globally accepted as more number of people has started coming forward to donate blood but pledging one's eyes still remains a big feat, the State health department has decided to hold fortnight awareness camp to sensitise masses about the pledging an eye.
In a move to make eye donation a mass movement, the State heath department will hold series of education and awareness programme across the State. The highlight of the event would be awareness camps in the Doon Group of Hospitals, Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, HIHT hospital and other private hospitals of the other districts of the State from August, 25 to September, 08.
Additionally, the department will also hold poster painting competitions for the school going children in Nehrugram, Dehradun. Sources confirmed that the department will also create awareness among the masses to pledge their eye for donation and special focus would be laid on pensioners and senior citizens.
Elucidating about National Blindness Control Programme (NBCP), State Programme Officer, Dr RP Badoni, State Programme Officer, National Blindness Control Programme in order to sensitize masses about the importance of eye donation, eye surgeons and ophthalmologist assistants are appointed in district hospitals and health centres.
He said that the department hard work got its recognition as residents have started coming up to pledge their eyes. "Anyone can pledge to be an eye donor and even poor eyesight and age don't rule out donors. It requires relatives and friends to ensure that this happens soon after death, usually within six hours," he said.
Dr Badoni said that apart from creating awareness among the masses about the importance of pledging one's eye, the number of healthcare should be also equipped with the latest medical equipments and the department has been working towards it.
It is noteworthy that the cornea is the clear surface of the eye that allows light to enter the eye. lost or reduced vision as cornea becomes 'cloudy' or scarred is known as corneal blindness. The sight of the corneally blind can be restored through corneal transplantation. Half of the people suffering from this can get their sight restored through corneal graft surgery.
Dr Badoni said that eyes are removed only after the interested person, who pledged to donate his eyes breathed his last. While highlighting about the procedures, Dr Badoni said that the person wishing to donate eyes should make close family members aware of his intentions and after his death, it is the family members who can inform the nearest eye bank to fulfill the wish of the deceased and authorise the medical officers to remove the eyes if somebody from an eye bank approaches.