President calls for waging social movement in favour of corneal donation

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President Iajuddin Ahmed called upon the conscious sections of society to come forward to wage social movement in favour of cornea donation among the masses for restoring sight of the blind, reports UNB.
President Iajuddin Ahmed made the appeal while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of an International Eye Bank Symposium at a city hotel Saturday.
Health Secretary AKM Zafarullah Khan attended the programme as the special guest while President of the International Agencies for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) GN Rao presented the keynote paper.
Country Director of ORBIS International Abu Raihan and General Secretary of Sandhani National Eye Donation Society Abul Kalam Azad were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Iajuddin Ahmed said: "Eye professionals, community opinion leaders and people from all sections of the society, including religious leaders, can play important roles in building mass awareness about corneal donation."
The President commended the ORBIS International for providing technical and financial support to local organisations and institutions in establishing eye-care facilities, which will play vital roles in reducing blindness in the country.
He mentioned that although the ultimate treatment of corneal transplant may help in restoring vision in many corneal patients, it is more important to prevent corneal diseases that lead to blindness.
"I think the organisers would consider these aspects of preventing blindness as well," he said.
The President termed the Eye Bank a strong social movement and said, "Accordingly, people at all levels can play an important role in establishing and running eye bank, too".
He expressed his satisfaction as Sandhani National Eye Donation Society has established a modern and high- standard eye bank in the country with the support from ORBIS International.
He hoped that this experience and success would inspire others to establish more eye banks in Bangladesh as well as in other countries.
The President said access to eye-health information and education needs to be expanded for all in order to preserve and save sight for those who are suffering from avoidable blindness. He added that media, both electronic and print, can play very effective role in this regard.
He also stressed the need for reduction of sight restoration by corneal transplant through taking appropriate measures that include public health education and early treatment of eye diseases and infection.