The district-level inauguration of World Sight Day programmes was inaugurated by Excise Minister K. Babu at a function in Panangad.
At the function, free eye check up for presbyopia was held and spectacles were distributed free of cost and consent forms for eye donation were also collected.
Eldhose Kunnappilly presided over the function that was organised by the District Medical Office, National Rural Health Mission, Kumbalam grama panchayat and the Nettoor Block Primary Health Centre. A rally held on the occasion was flagged off by P. Latha, principal, VHSS principal. S. Vijayalakshmi, ophthalmologist from the General Hospital held class on Vision 2020.
Maradu Municipal chairman, T. K. Devarajan, led the pledge for World Sight Day.
The district spends about Rs. 55 lakh per year as part of the National Blindness Eradication Programme that includes all free cataract surgeries done in the government and private sector, informed K. A. Safia, additional district medical officer in-charge of the programme.
For this there are 32 optometrists in the district who join the eye camps conducted by various agencies to look for any kind of eye disorders that can be treated.
