The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Plea for safety measures

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 27, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Plea for safety measures

I would like to draw the attention of authorities concerned about a problem in Anantapur town through your esteemed columns.

It is sad to note that no safety measures have been taken so far in Anantapur town, where the NH-7 bypass road passes through Tapovanam, Kalyandurg Road and Rudrampet.

People in these areas are in constant danger of meeting accidents as they have to cross the bypass road to reach town. It is glaring to note there are no speed breakers on this stretch. Even the school children have to cross this road to reach their schools every day. Four-wheelers and heavy vehicles particularly lorry go at high speed. I request the officials to take immediate steps.

G. Jagannadh,

Anantapur

Facts of eye donation

On the occasion of Eye donation fortnight from 25th August to 8th September 2007, here is some information about one of the most vital of the five senses, without which life becomes miserable. Loss of sight, due to damage to cornea (a thin layer in the eye) can be restored to a blind person by grafting the cornea, obtained from the eye ball of a dead person. “ Corneal Grafting” is the great advancement made in the field of Ophthalmic surgery. There are nearly fifteen lakh corneal blind people in our country

Some facts about eye donation. Almost anyone of any age can pledge to donate eyes after death irrespective of sex, caste, creed or religion. Eye donation may be done even if the donor wears glasses, has cataract or has undergone eye surgery successfully or having diseases like diabetes. All that is needed in a clear, healthy cornea..

Eyes have to be removed within six hours of death. So that immediately after death, information has to be given to the nearest ‘eye bank’. The eye bank itself will rush a doctor to the donor’s house. No fee is charged to the family. Eye removal will take only 10-15 minutes and leaves no sear or disfigurement of the face.

Blood sample will be collected from the donor at the time of retrieval of the eyes to test for infections like AIDS, syphilis and hepatitis. The procured cornea will be stored in M.K.Medium or moist chamber at eye banks until transplantation is done. Corneal transplantation is done only for people suffering from corneal blindness, but not for other causes of blindness. Eyes of the persons dying of snake bite, dog bite, drowning, burning, acute sapticemia, jaundice, cancer, leprosy and AIDS are not useful, as also the eyes with white patches on cornea and with ‘glaucoma’. Eye donation gives sight to two blind persons, one blind person is given one eye.

The donated corneas are transplanted to patients eyes who are on waiting list in accordance with the priority based on guidelines to avoid malpractice.

B. Subba Rao,

Kadapa

Gross waste

Some film stars recently have taken the lead in organizing family functions in a simple, yet effective manner. The ostentatious display of wealth and power during marriages and other functions is totally uncalled for and is a gross waste of resources. Instead, the rich can feed orphans, old and the disabled during such happy occasions. Huge man power, expenditure and the strain involved in could be saved by organizing such functions could be contained if the ceremony is celebrated on a low key.

R Ramesh,

Tirupati

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