Thousands of Blind students participated for run for vision to create eye donation awareness

Ranchi: Thousands of blindfolded school children under guidelines of guides ran over one and a half kilometers at Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, Khelgaon in Ranchi, reminding the world what the visually impaired have to deal with in everyday lives and created awareness on the need for eye donation.

The blindfolded run, further helped to prove that with teamwork, fighting blindness, which at one time proved difficult and impossible, could be easily achieved.

The run, was part of a 14 year long campaign Run for Vision, organised as part of the 34 National Eye Donation Fortnight, by Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank (Charity Wing) Ranchi and Eye Donation Awareness Club.

The Run was flagged off by Jharkhand Governor, Draupadi Murmu, state health minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi, Ranchi M.P. Sanjay Seth and Ranchi Mayor Asha Lakra.

“ Beginning last year, we have been organising the blindfolded Run for Vision, to raise awareness on eye donation. Today, our annual Run for Vision, entered the 14th year in succession. As a result of our constant efforts to raise awareness, Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank and Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital, Ranchi has successfully carried out 482 cornea transplants, all free of cost. In 2019, so far we have successfully carried out 14 cornea transplants, of which 14 corneas were received from eye banks located in other states of the country,” Bharti Kashyap, medical director, Kashyap Memorial Eye Bank, Ranchi, said.

Today, we have received word that a pair of corneas, donated by the next of kin of a 23 year old deceased youth from Hyderabad, is being sent to us. I appeal to all ee banks all over the country to ensure that not a single cornea, donated by brave next of kins of their dear ones, be allowed to go waste.

We already have a long list of those waiting for a cornea transplant. Nearly 1.5 million visually impaired are waiting for a cornea transplants, though in annually, nearly 1.5 deceased, whose corneas could help light up the lives of those waiting to see the world, are either consigned to flames or buried under the earth, Bharti Kashyap lamented.

Governor Draupadi Murmu, speaking on the occasion, said that Dr.Bharti Kashyap, who is also a noted ophthalmologist, is also undertaking intensive campaigns to improve women health. She added that efforts would be made to undertake surveys throughout the state, with emphasis on rural and difficult areas, to compile a list of people suffering from cornea related eye ailments so that they can be provided medical attention. Speaking on the occasion, state health minister, Ramchandra Chandravanshi, stressed that Jharkhand is committed to realise the target of 200 cornea transplants. We intend to create a corpus of corneas in the state so that these can be used to restore sight of those needy.

Governor Draupadi Murmu, felicitated two city diabetologists- Dr.Sanjay Kumar Ray and Dr.Vinay Dhandhania, on the occasion.

Others felicitated for their notable contribution for raising eye donation awareness included Dr.Pradeep Kumar Singh, secretary, IMA, Jharkhand, Basab Choudhary, CEO, JSSPS, Mrs.M.T.P.Agarwal, principal, St.Michael’s School for Blind, Ms.Asha Lakra, Mayor and Sanjeev Vijayvargiya, deputy mayor, Ranchi .

The following family members who had donated the eyes of their deceased dear ones, were felicitated by Smt.Draupadi Murmu, Governor and Ramchandra Chandravanshi, state health mnister.