The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Help for the visually challenged

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Sunday, Jun 28, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Help for the visually challenged

Staff Reporter

Project launched under which ocular prosthesis will be provided to the needy

‘Plan is to cover one lakh people under the project’
‘We are concentrating only on Karnataka initially’

Bangalore: On the occasion of Helen Keller Day, Narayana Nethralaya and city-based NGOs IDL Foundation and IDL Blind Band came together to launch a unique project called “Hellen Keller Natural Eyes for the Blind” for the benefit of the visually impaired in the State.

The project was inaugurated by the former Lokayukta N. Venkatachala on Saturday. It includes eye screening and fixing of custom-made “ocular prosthesis” (artificial eye to replace a natural eye).

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman and Managing Director of Narayana Nethralaya K. Bhujang Shetty said the project involved extending medical help to the visually challenged in the State. “The project is mainly for the visually challenged belonging to economically weaker sections of society. Though the cost of each eye varies between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 5,000, depending upon the treatment and medical attention, we are providing free treatment,” Dr. Shetty said.

“The plan is to cover one lakh people under this project. We are concentrating only on Karnataka initially. Later we will launch the project in other States also,” he said.

Hadi M. Khazaei, Head of Department, Orbit-Oculoplasty-oncology service at the hospital, said that seven members of IDL Blind Band were given custom-made ocular-prosthesis under the project.

For details, call the hospital at 66660656 or 9342530290.

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