The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : 70% of people are `willing to donate eyes'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

70% of people are `willing to donate eyes'

Staff Reporter

15-day motorcycle expedition to spread awareness

TOWARDS VISION: V.Velayutham, director and superintendent, Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Egmore interacts with the team which returned from motorcycle expedition to sensitise people on eye donation at a function on Tuesday. — Photo: S.S .Kumar

CHENNAI : Only about half the people in the State are aware of eye donation, according to a survey by a student team from D.G. Vaishnav College.

The team, which went on a 15-day motorcycle expedition this month, spoke to about 1,600 people across the State.

S. Narasimhan, principal of D.G.Vaishnav College, released the results of the survey on Tuesday. B. Srinivas, senior area manager of Hero Honda (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) received the first copy of the book.

A team of 14 NCC cadets and two visual communication students were involved in the survey.

Lieutenant S. Santhosh Baboo, who led the team on its 3,850-km expedition, said only seven per cent of the people surveyed had pledged to donate their eyes so far. Schools and media contribute to 54 per cent of the awareness. People in places such as Namakkal, Erode and Salem were more sensitised compared to other districts, the survey reported.

With 70 per cent of the people interviewed willing to donate their eyes, more eye banks must be set up in local areas to address the need, he added.

Mr.Baboo said the team distributed pamphlets on eye donation procedures, diabetic retinopathy and significance of school eye screening programmes.

The team also performed skits in several cities.

Rotary Rajan Eye Bank, Rajan Eye Clinic supported the expedition.

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