The Tiruchi District Blindness Control Society launched a signature campaign to create awareness on prevention of blindness here on Sunday to mark the World Sight Day.
Director of Public Health S. Ilango inaugurated the campaign in the presence of Balasubramanian, Dean of Annal Gandhi Memorial Government Headquarters Hospital, and K.Thirumaran, Principal of Thanjai N.M.Venkata Nattar Arts College.
Dr. Ilango said that efforts should be taken to control the blindness and pointed out that 80 per cent of all cases of blindness could be prevented or treated. He said that if effective steps were not taken before end of 2020, the number of visually challenged would touch 100 million in the world.
He pointed out that free treatments were being provided for all types of eye ailments in all the Government hospitals, primary health centres and the people should make use of it.
Dr. Veerapandi, Deputy Director of Health Services, Dr. Shanmugam, project manager of Tiruchi district Blindness Control Society, and others participated in the campaign.
