State gets First Eye Bank, fourth in NE
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 29 2023:
Manipur has become the fourth state in the north east to have an eye bank with the Health and Family Welfare minister Dr S Ranjan officially inaugurating the first Eye bank of Manipur at the State Ophthalmic Cell, Lamphel, here, on Wednesday.
The inaugural function of Manipur Eye Bank was organised jointly by National Program for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI) National Health Mission and Directorate of Health Services, government of Manipur.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, minister Dr S Ranjan informed that the newly inaugurated Manipur Eye Bank will provide all necessary services to the people.
The Ophthalmic Cell along with the public need to work with a sense of sacrifice and help in preventing eye related problems including blindness.
The government also acknowledges the contributions made by private eye care centres and clinics to control blindness among the public, he said.
Pointing out the need for the public to be aware of eye do-* nation, the minister said that the concept of donating eye is interpreted very differently among the public with many quite apprehensive of this idea.
In this regard, specialists and ophthalmologists should make the people aware that the donation is only a small/thin part of the eye called cornea and will not be known that it is being taken out.
If this awareness is inculcated in the minds of the people, more people will come out to pledge to donate their eyes and will be beneficial to the society, he added.
Informing that he had already pledged to donate his eyes in 2018, the minister said that all of us should back the concept of donating our eyes.
Taking the opportunity of the presence of the ophthalmologists, he also raised the issue of glaucoma, which is mostly detected in the last stage, and asked the doctors/ophthalmologists to screen patients minutely for detecting glaucoma.
For the programme, buses have been allotted to provide service to the people to reach to all areas of the state.
The bus service needs to operate effectively to serve and receive the blessings of the people, he added.
Dr S Ranjan further said that the Eye Bank should be kept very hygienic as post-operative complications arise often and to maintain such condition, funds will eventually be allocated as it is for the welfare of people.
Wishing the Eye Bank a successful venture ahead, he also said that when the Eye Bank is fully functional, more and more people will come up to donate their eyes.
The minister handed over the two - wheeler keys to be used in the eye bank and Donor Cards were also distributed to people who had pledged to donate their eyes.
Presided over by health and family welfare commissioner Pradeep Jha, the function was also attended by health director Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang and NHM State Mission Director Dr Somorjit Ningombam as guests of honour.
SNO NPCH & VI Dr Vikram Singh Koisnam, Manipur State Eye Bank medical director in-charge Dr N Reagan, CMOU (I) ophthalmologist Dr Jayshree Takhellambam, senior ophthalmologists, officials, faculty members, donors and staff were also present on the occasion.