The Mobile Eye Surgical Unit (MESU) the first of its kind ‘operation theatre on wheels’ in Asia, a medico-engineering marvel developed jointly with IIT-Madras and its dedicated outdoor community ophthalmology team embarked on yet another historic trip in their journey towards eradicating blindness in the rural pockets of India by dispensing high quality eye care, totally cost free, right at the doorsteps of the visually impaired on the 5^th of June 2015. The camp being conducted at Orikkai village in Kanchipuram District jointly with Ms Kuehne Nagel the well known global logistics and business enterprise company, and under the auspices of the Kanchi Mutt assumed great significance since the locale was regularly frequented by the Mahaswami. The MESU camp started on the 6^th of June 2015 and received enthusiastic response with a large number of residents from Orikkai and the neighbouring areas turning up for eye screening and remedial care. A function celebrating the camp and the 122^nd birth anniversary of His Holiness Mahaperiyava Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi was held at the ‘Kanchi Mahaswami Manimandapam’ at 5:00pm on the 10^th of June under the reverential auspices of the Kanchi Pontiffs, His Holiness Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and His Holiness Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal.

The senior management team of Dr. SS.Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus, Dr S.Bhaskaran, Chairman, Dr. TS.Surendran, Vice-Chairman, Dr KS.Vasan, MD from Sankara Nethralaya and Ms Rekha Narayanan and Ms. Lakshmi Iyer of Kuhne Nagel participated in the function. Speaking on the occasion Dr S.S.Badrinath thanked the sponsors of the camp and expressed his respectful Pranams to the Kanchi Acharyas present at the venue, a man who never for a minute forgets the support of well wishers and friends he thoughtfully mentioned to the gathering that the day happened to be the birthday of Shri Rahul Bajaj one of the institution’s most generous supporters and sought the blessings of the Swamijis for his long and healthy life. He highlighted the yeoman service rendered by the mobile eye surgical unit in the most remote regions of the country and lauded the sincere efforts and technical expertise of Colonel N.Raghavan, Advisor- Projects, Sankara Nethralaya for being the driving force and chief architect of the ‘MESU’ from the Sankara Nethralaya side, he thanked him for his services and warmly invited him to take the blessings of the Kanchi Acharyas. Colonel Raghavan paid his humble pranams and received the blessings of the Sages. A highlight of the function was the video release of ‘Vidiyal’-‘Dawn of Hope’ a real life and poignant portrayal of Sankara Nethralaya’s cost free community service through the ‘MESU’ as perceived by a beneficiary, produced by Shri Badri Surendran, son of  Dr TS.Surendran, Vice-Chairman Sankara Nethralaya. The video was released by His Holiness Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and the first copy of the same was received by Dr.SS.Badrinath to the thunderous ovation of the gathering. The Pontiffs of the Kanchi Mutt blessed the gathering and the eye camp and delivered their Anugrahabashanam. The program was presented by ardent devote of Mahaperiyava, Srimathi Revathi Sankaran, the well known TV personality and friend of Sankara Nethralaya, she moved the hearts of the gathering with a soulful rendering of ‘Maithi Bajathi’ the timeless melody of Srimathi M.S.Subbulakshmi, rendered at the United Nations.

We take great pleasure in sharing the details of the camp with our readers

Duration of camp – 5^th to 15^th of June 2015

Total number of people screened- 773

Total number of patients diagnosed as needing cataract surgery- 279

Total number of patients found physically unfit for surgery and referred to the base hospital to prepare them for surgery – 54

Total number of patients referred to base hospital for detailed evaluation and cross consultation for other eye ailments– 194

Total number of cataract surgeries performed – 158