Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 30 2009:
Under the National Blindness Control Programme, Shija Eye Care Foundation in collaboration with District Blindness Control Society, Thoubal has started free cataract operation of 45 patients.
Addressing a press conference in this connection at Shija Hospital here this afternoon, its Managing Director Dr Palin informed that out of the 45 patients including two children, the operation has been performed for 35 patients till yesterday.
The two children are cases of congenital cataract, a condition in which they started suffering from cataract even before being born.
Among the two children, one has already been given certificate confirming blindness.
Along with these two children, in all five patients would be operated tomorrow, Dr Palin informed, while expressing confidence that after the operation the two children would be able to see again.
He further said that on June 25, a free cataract screening camp had been conducted at CHC Heirok.
In all 300 persons were enrolled in the camp.
Out of these 300 persons, screening of 194 confirmed cataract in 45 patients.
Starting from July last year, Shija Eye Care Foundation also started free cataract adoption in Senapari District under the Mission for Vision Programme.
Continuing the effort, weekly visit is being paid and patients who needed operation are being brought to Shija Hospital for necessary medication.
Under this programme, so far 318 operations have been conducted.
A meeting held at Guwahati has also given the approval for expansion of the programme in other districts of the State.
Accordingly, the programme has been taken up in Thoubal district and it would be subsequently extended to other districts as well, Dr Palin disclosed.
Informing that Shija Eye Care Foundation is working toward making itself as an eye care destination of the Northeast region, Dr Palin said Shija Hospital has the required equipments and if the Government provides the facility for reimbursement there would be no need for spending huge amount of money in going outside the State for treatment of eye.
The Director General of Health Services, Government of India has been requested for giving the permission for setting up an Eye Bank at Shija Hospital, Dr Palin said, while acknowledging that lack of general awareness on eye donation in Manipur still.