Vice-Admiral Anup Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, on Thursday called for taking up a massive campaign on eye donation.
He was speaking as chief guest at the valedictory of eye donation fortnight conducted by Mohsin Eye Bank managed by Vebart Trust at the LV Prasad Eye Institute.
Expressing concern at high incidence of blindness in the city, he said despite the fast-paced development, the level of awareness was not that impressive. He complimented Mohsin Eye Bank for emerging as one of the top banks in the country.
Chairman and Managing Director of Vijay Nirman Company S. Vijay Kumar underlined the need for coordinated effort to popularise donation of various organs. He said the donation of bodies would also help the medicos in carrying out various studies in the medical colleges. Donation of the organs of brain dead should also be encouraged in a big way.
The eye donation fortnight was observed from August 25 to September 8, during which Mohsin Eye Bank conducted awareness programmes like audio-visual presentations in offices, colleges, quiz and painting competitions in schools and put up publicity stalls in various public places like railway station, bus complex and malls.
Collection of 21 corneas in 2001 increased to 497 corneas in the last financial year showing the immense growth of the eye bank due to the hard work and efforts put forth by the trustees and the staff. Till date the bank harvested 1,816 corneas and successfully transplanted 1,066 corneas.
Eye donation fortnight chairman M. Ravindra Babu, eye bank secretary Arisetty Sreerama Murthy and vice-chairman A.V.N. Chetty spoke.
