The Second Mission Myanmar Journey For Sight

24th December 2013 *

A team of Shija Eye Care Foundation was flagged off by Shri K. Govindas, Hon’ble Minister- Commerce and Industry and Sericulture, Govt of Manipur at 10:00 am on 24th of December 2013. The team of 11 members under the banner of Mission Myanmar for Sight will perform 200 plus cataract blindness surgery at General Hospital Monywa, capital of Sagaing Dvision, Myanmar. Cataract is the gradual opacity of the lens inside the eye ball causing gradual diminution of vision. Vision can be returned by replacing the opaque eye with an artificial lens. The Mission is sponsored by Shri Okram Ibobi Singh, Honorable Chief Minister of Manipur. It is a collaborative effort of Govt of Manipur, Govt of Myanmar, Indian Consulate General and Shija Eye Care Foundation. Special permit has been granted to the team for the Mission by the Government of Sagaing Division. The team will perform the surgery on 26th, 27th and 28th of Dec and reach Imphal on 30th Dec, 2013.

Over 1.8 million Myanmar nationals are estimated to be suffering from cataract blindness. There is a lack of health care facilities in the country of Myanmar. The Mission is an attempt by Shija Hospital to give sight to the blind in its possible capacity and Shija is very grateful to the Govt of Manipur, Govt of Myanmar and Indian Consulate General in making the Mission happen.

The team members are Dr.Kh Palin, Chairman cum Managing Director, SHRI, Dr. Sachindra Laishram, Consultant Eye Surgeon, Dr. Keisham Romen, Consultant Eye Surgeon, Mr.Chingangbam Dhananjoy, Legal Advisor, Dr. Bonney Kh, CEO, SHRI, Ms.Pukhrambam Pusparani, Opthalmic Technician Mr.Loitongbam Homendrajit, Opthalmic Technician, Mrs.Oinam Junney, Nurse, Mr. Chongtham Rataneshor, Opthalmic Technician, Mrs. Sukham Geeta, Nurse, Mr. Premjit L, Asst Manager Business Development.

Shija Eye Care Foundation has been able to provide community service to provide complicated eye care like PHACO, Retina Surgery, Occuloplasty surgery and Paediatric Opthalmology. The Foundation has successfully done over 8000 cataract surgery in the last five years. It is equipped with sophisticated equipments and has been able to save the State exchequer by making the much needed services available in the state. The Shija Eye Care Foundation is trying to establish Cornea Transplant program in the near future.

It can be remembered that the first Mission Myanmar in May 2013 wherein 103 free cleft lip and palate surgeries were performed successfully on 87 patients has helped in developing the relationship between the two nations. The objective of the Second Mission Myanmar is also to enhance the existing relationship between the two nations.

During the Flag Off ceremony, Dr. Kh Palin, Chairman cum Managaing Director of Shija Hospitals described the second Mission Myanmar as another milestone and historical event. He shared his experience of the previous Mission Myanmar in 2013 and hoped that the second journey would be equally eventful and enjoyable. He informed the gathering of the upcoming Cornea transplantation in facility and said that Shija is committed to bring this facility to the state of Manipur. The previous Mission Myanmar received a lot of appreciation and he was informed through feedback that in Myanmar the earlier image of Manipur has been elevated after the Mission Myanmar. He expressed the need of collective effort to improve the image of Manipur. He also urged the Govt to expedite the process of Visa on arrival facility and Passport office in Manipur, citing the difficulty faced in obtaining passport for the Mission Myanmar team. He also requested the Government to remove the status Protected Area Permit from Manipur to facilitate various industries including tourism and health industry. He sought blessings from all to enable the team to help bring back vision to the lives of Myanmar nationals whom they will be operating on in this mission.

Chief Guest of the function Shri K. Govindas, Hon’ble Minister- Commerce and Industry and Sericulture Govt. of Manipur expressed his happiness over the initiative taken up Shija Hospitals. He appreciated Dr. Kh Palin and the Shija team for the various innovations and developments brought in the field of medical sciences. He said that such Missions and initiatives need to be supported by all. He wished his blessings and support for many more such initiatives to be taken up by the SHRI not only within the state but even across the border. Meeting, helping and supporting each other in areas of need will only help in developing relationships and such Missions will certainly contribute in doing so, said he. With the warm hospitality extended to Myanmar Officials during Sangai festival he said that he believes the same will be extended to the team going to Myanmar. He agreed to the bottlenecks said by Dr. Palin Kh and said that the Govt is pursuing very hard to clear those bottlenecks. Once PAP has been removed he believes that tourism in all sectors including medical tourism will develop in heaps and bounds.