National Eye Donation Day
Sankara Nethralaya Organizes Rally on National Eye Donation Day
On September 8th, 2022, National Eye Donation Day, Sankara Nethralaya (SN), and the SN C. U. Shah Eye Bank organized a rally at its Dr. V. G. Appukutty campus at St. Thomas Mount. Each year, India observes National Eye Donation Fortnight from August 25th to September 8th, 2022. During the two weeks, eye donation awareness activities are organized throughout the city to educate the public.
This year, Sankara Nethralaya’s C. U. Shah Eye Bank in collaboration with the Elite School of Optometry marched for eye donation awareness. Joining the 12 km rally were Mr. Nanda Kumar, Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Chief Guest, Dr. Anuradha N., Principal, Elite School of Optometry (ESO), Dr. Rama Rajagopal , Director, and Dr. N. Radhika, Deputy Director, Department of Corneal Services, Dr Veena Baskaran, Incharge – Community Ophthalmology, the students of ESO and The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA), and staff of Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai.
The Chief Guest, Mr. Nanda Kumar, Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax, Indian Revenue Service (IRS) was felicitated by Dr. Rama Rajagopal. Special guest, Mr. Raman, Dasaya Trust (NGO) was also present to encourage the participants in their laudable endeavour. Mr. Nandakumar appreciated the efforts of Sankara Nethralaya and Elite School of Optometry in organizing the event. He extolled the spirit of community service and said that the visually challenged only needed opportunities to prove themselves. Dr. Rama Rajagopal advised the audience to remember the noble cause of eye donation throughout the year. She reminded everyone that eye donation was not a disfigurement and that only the cornea would be donated.
During the fortnight, consultants from Sankara Nethralaya’s Department of Cornea Services, Dr. R. R. Sudhir, and Dr N Radhika gave interviews on major Tamil News Channels to raise awareness about eye donation.
Anyone can pledge their eyes regardless of age. While the term “eye donation” is commonly used, there is no whole eye transplantation. Usually, only corneal tissue is donated. One person’s cornea donation can restore sight to 4 people. Corneal or eye donation is one of the ‘universal’ donations where donors are not restricted by blood type, age, eye colour, and eyesight.
Sankara Nethralaya’s Eye Donation awareness rally at Marina
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.
Slogans raised in support, message placards and a sunny walk on the beach reiterate Sankara Nethralaya’s commitment to eye donation.
Sankara Nethralaya’s eye donation awareness creation initiatives in lieu of ‘Eye Donation Awareness Fortnight’ being observed between August 25th– Sept 8th which took the form of lectures and a human chain rally came to a grand finale with the ‘Sankara Nethralaya Walk for Vision – 2015 on the 8th of September being observed as ‘National Eye Donation Day’. The walk generated enthusiastic response and a large gathering of 1,500 participants consisting working professionals, students etc converged at the Gandhi Statue at the Marina well in advance of schedule. Celebrity Chief Guest Kala master gave a brief talk on the need for eye donation and flagged off the walk at 9:00am, she joined fellow walkers raising their voice and placards for the cause of eye donation as they marched purposefully along the service road abutting the beach unmindful of the hot Sun. The walk concluded at the Kannagi Statue at Triplicane after which Dr T.S.Surendran, Vice-Chairman,Sankara Nethralaya gave a brief talk on the need for eye donation to overcome the current shortage of cornea needed for transplant surgeries, Shri Lakshminarayanan, Social Worker, CU Shah Eye Bank,Sankara Nethralaya also addressed the gathering and briefed the press on the bleak current scenario in terms of need and availability of cornea for transplant and the purpose of the walk. The awareness creation event conducted jointly with the Rotary Club received financial support from the Central bank of India, while ‘Bisleri’ the popular packaged water brand and ‘Goldwinner’ the leading edible oil company demonstrated their solidarity with the cause by providing free water bottles and sun caps to the participants.
Sankara Nethralaya spearheads “Awareness rally during Eye Donation Fortnight”
Sankara Nethralaya, with its undaunting spirit has consistently championed the noble cause of eye donation with numerous efforts to enhance the volume of eye donations, to bridge the wide gap between availability and need for cornea in transplant procedures by spreading awareness on eye donation. Since its inception, the CU Shah Eye Bank has been […]
National Eye donation fortnight sees fresh impetus in eye donation drive
National Eye Donation Fortnight (August 25th to September 8th) was observed in right earnest by the CU Shah eye bank. A multi-pronged approach was adopted to reach out the critical message of eye donation/eye pledging to the general public. The fortnight’s activities got off to a flying start with a human chain and rally of […]