NPCB 32nd Eye Donation Fortnight Special Edition

DELHI NPCB 32ND EYE DONATION FORTNIGHT

Special Edition

Delhi NPCB 32nd Eye Donation Fortnight

IN THIS ISSUE

A message from the Editorial desk on 32nd Eye Donation Fortnight

Issue Date

Editorial by Dr K.S. Baghotia, SPO NPCB, Delhi

And they inspired…

People who have pledged their Eye Donation For you eyes are an inspiration to friends Facts about cornea and Eye and family… donation made easy for the laymen by Dr Chandraprakash.

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Myths and Facts- Eye Donation A compilation of facts by Dr Yashvinder

A cause straight from the ‘art When creativity and cause came together …

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EDITOR SPEAK

Immortality has always been the fascination of men down the ages. And so are some notable virtues of giving, forgiving et al. Yes, deep philosophy has always been an engaging subject But Public health is governed by facts and figures and not by philosophy alone. And the fact remains that every year 20000 cases of Corneal blindness are added to the already existing backlog.

“In India, it is estimated that there are approximately 6.8 million people who have vision less than 6/60 in at least one eye due to corneal diseases; of these, about a million have bilateral involvement. It is expected that the number of individuals with unilateral

corneal blindness in India will increase to 10.6 million by 2020” It is estimated that 50 percent of Corneal blindness is treatable and correctible.

10.6 million is an alarming figure. While NPCB will function in its fullest capacity for prevention and early treatment of corneal diseases, a sizeable contribution from the society in the form of eye donation is also required for the rehabilitation of the cases of corneal blindness.

Though again it is the greatest sounding cliché, one cannot deny the truth of it when it is said that eye donation is the greatest gift you can bestow to a person after you are gone. No amount of wealth can equate with it ever.

It matters the most, when you no longer matter nor anything matters to you anymore.

May the Spirit of the Eye Donation Fortnight remain in spirit throughout the year.

Eye donation after death assures your immortality, if not anatomically, but in your deed and the thoughts of others.

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Eye Donation made simple for you

By Dr Chandra Prakash

are waiting for corneal transplantation and approximately 25,000 new cases are being reported every year.

FAST FACTS

 BLINDNESS IN INDIA-15 MILLION  CORNEAL BLINDNESS4.6 MILLION

❖ Eye donation means donating the eyes of a person after death for transplantation with the family consent.

(90% BELOW AGE 45 YRS. INCLUDING 60% CHILDREN BELOW 12 YRS

➢ Cornea is the clear tissue covering the front of the eye. ➢ It serves as a window to allow light to enter the eye. ➢ It is the clear, transparent dome in front of the black of eye. ➢ It is also the main focusing surface. ➢ If the cornea becomes cloudy from disease, injury, infection or poor nutrition, vision is dramatically reduced or lost. ➢ Corneal blindness affects mainly children and young adults who have a long life ahead of them.

❖ One eye donation can give sight to two corneal blind persons.

HOW AND WHEN ? ❖ Eyes should be donated within 6-8 hrs of death.

WHO CAN DONATE EYES ? ❖ Anyone can be donor, irrespective of age, sex, blood group or religion. ❖ Anyone with cataract or spectacles can donate eyes. ❖ Person suffering from hypertension, diabetes can also donate eyes.

WHY EYE DONATION ? ❖ Approximately 11 Lakh (1.1 Million) blind population of our country 3

❖ Total procedures take 1520 minutes. ❖ There is no disfigurement of the face of the donor. ❖ After removal, the eyes are analyzed, processed at the eye bank and then cornea is transplanted within 96 hours. ❖ Eye banks come under Human Organ Transplantation Act, and are given registration

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after inspection by competent authorities. ❖ Donated eyes cannot be brought or sold as it is a crime under the act.

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HOW YOU CAN HELP ? ✓ Pledge your eyes ✓ Motivate others to pledge. Act as an catalyst and facilitate eye

donation by counseling family members of deceased in your neighborhood, relatives, friends etc.

SOME MYTHS SOME FACTS BY DR YASHVINDER ( A COMPILATION) MYTH DONATING EYES, WILL LEAVE HOLES IN THE EYE SOCKET CAUSING FACIAL DISFIGUREMENT FACT EYE DONATION DOES NOT CAUSE ANY DISFIGUREMENT OF THE FACE AS ONLY THE CORNEA OF THE EYE IS REMOVED AND NOT THE ENTIRE EYE..

MYTH IF YOU HAVE A PREVIOUS HISTORY OF CATARACT OR GLAUCOMA THEN YOU CANNOT PLEDGE YOUR EYES FOR DONATION

FACT YOU CAN DONATE YOUR EYES EVEN IF YOU HAVE A PREVIOUS HISTORY OF CATARACT, PROVIDED YOU HAVE BEEN OPERATED/TREATED FOR CATARACT OR GLAUCOMA. MYTH AGED PEOPLE CANNOT DONATE EYES FACT ONE CAN DONATE ONE’S EYES, IRRESPECTIVE OF AGE. PRACTICALLY, ANYONE WHO IS ABOVE ONE YEAR OF AGE CAN DONATE THEIR EYES. THERE IS NO UPPER AGE LIMIT. MYTH EYES OF INDIAN DONORS ARE NOT GOOD FOR CORNEAL TRANSPLANT FACT EYES OF ANY DECEASED PERSON, IRRESPECTIVE NATIONALITY/RACE/CAST, CAN BE USED FOR CORNEAL TRANSPLANTATION

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And they inspired….

Recently, Delhi State had started a Facebook Page for the 32nd Eye Donation Fortnight to create awareness among the general population through Social Media.

The Page was set up to target the section of population who were interactive in Social Media and which included the next gen of the country.

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too. It’s useless to the dead but priceless to a blind person. I really feel proud by the thought itself that one day I will become the reason for someone's happiness" – Miss Swati Swati had also prepared a poster and pasted it for display to the public to inspire her colleagues and co-workers in her office Her commitment was truly inspiring and admirable.

bringing a change in the society with their contribution to various organisation like Boy Scouts, Civil defense etc.

They have a huge following in the community and were instrumental in creating an interest in Eye donation in our Facebook page.

SOME MORE WHO PLEDGED THEIR EYES

Social media is a powerful tool to convey messages, generate mass interest among the new generation who are going to be the future pillars of the nation.

We were overwhelmed by the response received from the Social Media user community.

We had set up the page to encourage prospective Eye donors and also as an interactive medium for those who have pledged their eyes to share their stories and inspire others.

Here are a few who inspired others by example

We also had a family of donors who were totally committed to Organ donation as a whole.

MrAvtar Singh , Mr Satnam Singh and Mr Harpreet Singh. Mr Avtar and Mr Satnam are brothers while Harpret is their nephew.

I have this wish that whoever are the recipients of my eyes, may please visit my funeral service at my home so that it feels like I am seeing it all through my eyes and that my family too may feel my presence showering my love on them" Mr Chander Pal, from St John’s Ambulance Mr Chander Pal

Miss Swati Singh, a PHN under DGHS is very much committed to the cause of Eye Donation and has pledged her eyes as well as other organs.

“Eyes are a precious gift to mankind and a wise person utilizes the gift while alive, and after death

They are a family who has always believed in community service and 5

Mr Ramesh Kumar – Who pledged his eyes recently.

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Straight from the ‘Art. When Creativity and Cause came together for the Eye Donation Fortnight, what we achieved were some beautiful pieces of art and thought-provoking messages.

A call for Poster submissions from children for Poster Competition was announced in the Arya Orphanage, Daryaganj, Delhi ( in collaboration with MHS), Chandra Arya Vidyalaya for girls and the under privileged children from BUDS ( Bal Umang Drishya Sanstha )

We are proud to say that it brought out the best from them in the form of art and thoughtfulness and was a perfect example of creativity for a cause. Here Are some of the best entries

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DELHI NPCB 32ND EYE DONATION FORTNIGHT

Special Edition

Delhi NPCB 32nd Eye Donation Fortnight

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