Kohima: Health officials in Longleng gathered at the District Hospital on September 7 to confront a stark reality. They want more eyes. The District Health Society hosted the event as part of the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight. This campaign operates under the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Thungchanpeni Patton told the crowd that eye donation is a noble gift that lives on. She pushed for families to respect the donation pledges of their loved ones. People need to stop fearing myths. Ignorance keeps sight away from the blind.
Ophthalmologist Dr. Thejavituo Kire broke down the logistics of the program. India has observed this 15-day campaign every year since 1985. Kire noted that anyone can donate regardless of age or gender, provided they do not carry specific disqualifying diseases. He explained that there is no man-made replacement for human tissue. Donated corneas remain the only way to fix corneal blindness.
Kire highlighted the stubborn gap between the number of people who need transplants and the limited supply of donor tissue. "He appealed to the public to learn the facts, dispel myths associated with eye donation and come forward to pledge their eyes after death to help restore sight to those in need." Corneal injuries remain a major cause of global vision loss, making every pledge count.
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