Hundreds of youth clad in T-Shirts spreading message of eye donation participated in the Blind folded Run for Vision 2023, organised at the Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium at Khelgaon, Ranchi on the occasion of 38 national eye donation fortnight on Thursday. Governor, CP Radhakrishnan, Health Minister Banna Gupta and Ranchi Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Seth flagged off the blindfolded run for vision. Hundreds of sports enthusiasts from Ursuline Convent School and Sports Academy, along with eminent people participated in the event.
“Over the past 21 years, Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank, Ranchi has been organising annual Run for Vision and Blindfolded Marathons since 2018, to give out the message of importance of eye donations. The then Governor, Jharkhand, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, during her tenure, had also participated in our programmes for 5 years in a row and had even been pleased to pledge her eyes with Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank, Ranchi, to boost the campaign for eye donations. We have already performed 806 cornea transplants so far and beginning 2018, the Eye Bank has performed 159 cornea transplants against a target of 150 for Jharkhand in 2022-23. We have a long list of patients waiting for cornea transplants, though posthumous eye donations locally, are few in numbers. For this reason, networking amongst local eye banks is the need of the hour," Dr. Bharti Kashyap, Medical Director, Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank, Ranchi, said.
Governor C.P Radhakrishnan said, “During our lifetime, we need to help others. However it would be a divine act, if we could endeavour to give the gift of sight to people suffering from corneal blindness.” He was full of praise for the efforts of Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank and Eye Donation Awareness Club to spread awareness on eye donation amongst the people.
Health minister, Banna Gupta, said," Against a target of 150, Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank, Ranchi, during 2022-23, has performed 159 transplants. However, Jharkhand is not being given due credit as corneas are being outsourced through cornea distribution systems. Hence coordination amongst local eye banks needs to be established.
Ranchi MP, Sanjay Seth said that the need of the hour is a spurt in full body donations. Recently, a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad donated his body setting a great precedence, he added.
State Health Secretary, Arun Kumar Singh said that performance of State eye banks is below expectations, though private eye banks , like Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank have performed 159 cornea transplants, more than the 150 target fixed. He added that the State Organ Transplantation Organisation needs to be revamped.
Family members of 12 eye donors, who have donated the eyes of their dear ones, the winners of the painting competition and blindfolded Run for Vision 2023 were felicitated by Health Minister Banna Gupta, Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth and Additional CS, Health AK Singh.
The Vote of Thanks was given by Deputy Director Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital, Bibhuti Kashyap.
