People exhorted to support noble cause

Anantapur: District Collector Kona Sasidhar called upon the employees and the educated people to donate eyes after death by signing eye donation consent papers to enable the blind to see and also live again after death.

Participating in the 31st National Eye Donation Fortnight Observance concluding ceremony at the Government General Hospital here on Thursday, the Collector said that 15 lakh people in the country are blind and one person by donating his eyes after death can make two blind people see.

The Collector stated that one cannot live eternally but if one donated his or her eyes, they can live twice. He also signed eye donation consent papers donating his eyes after death. Later, Sasidhar visited several wards in the hospital.

The Collector suggested that drawing, painting and cartoon competitions be held at the children’s ward to make children forget that they are in the hospital. He said that soft toys also be made available to children.

The Collector promised to give available funds and raise donations for the cause and for arranging mesh doors for children’s ward. He promised to take up the issue of inadequate staff in the hospital with the government.

A noted eye surgeon Dr Akbar gave consent to donate his eyes after death. He said that he conducted 60,000 eye surgeries for the poor in rural areas. DMHO Dr Venkataramana also spoke.