Sankara Nethralaya has consistently championed the noble cause of eye donation and has been making sincere attempts to enhance the volume of eye donations, to bridge the wide gap prevailing between the availability and need for cornea in transplant procedures, by spreading awareness on eye donation.
Since its inception the institution has been involved in awareness creation initiatives like short movies, lectures, articles and interviews on eye donation in journals and electronic media by its senior consultants and by conducting outdoor events. In continuation of this ongoing effort and as part of the National ‘Eye Donation Fortnight’, being observed nationwide from August 25 to September 8, 2016, the CU Shah Eye Bank, Sankara Nethralaya undertook a string of activities across the city which included eye donation awareness talks at Ford India, Hyundai Motor Company, Vijaya Hospitals, MMM Hospital and a massive human chain rally sponsored jointly with the Lions Club of Anna Nagar conducted at the DG Vaishnav College, Arumbakkam to create awareness on the importance of eye donation and to sensitize the public on the need to donate eyes by pledging the same.
The fortnight long events culminated in a massive awareness rally at the Marina Beach on 08.09.2016 (Thursday) being observed as “National Eye Donation Day”. The Walk titled “Sankara Nethralaya’s Walk for Vision 2016” commenced at 8.00 am at the Labour Statue. The walk had a huge participation of 1,500 members belonging to different age groups comprising students from the NSS, various city colleges, including educational institutions run by Sankara Nethralaya, members of leading corporate houses and senior management and staff members of Sankara Nethralaya. The enthusiastic participants held aloft placards espousing and educating the cause of eye donation and raised their voice drawing attention to the same.
Director General of Police – Civil Supplies CID, Dr Radhakrishnan IPS and Actor Nassar graced the event as the Chief Guest and addressed the audience on the need to donate eyes, flagged off the rally and joined the marchers. This was followed by an awareness talk on eye donation by Dr. T.S. Surendran, Vice-Chairman, Mrs Akila Ganesan Director – Administration, briefed the press on the dismal statistics in terms of availability and need for Cornea for transplant surgeries in the country and the need to overcome the same through increased eye donations.
The event was supported by ‘Bisleri’ the popular packaged water brand by its cost free water bottles and leading edible oil manufacturer ‘Gold winner’ provided Sun Caps and T Shirts to the participants.