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Blindness is no ordinary threat to children around the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). It says that a child is turning blind every minute, while 89 per cent of blindness among children occurs before the child reaches 5 years of age. The WHO also points out that 60 per cent of the children born with blindness die before they reach the age of three.
But there is no need for panic. Timely detection and proper treatment, both medical and surgical, can prevent 50 per cent of the instances of blindness and visual impairment among children.
The magnitude of the problem in Krishna and Guntur districts can be gauged from the following figures: Of the total population of 86 lakhs in these two districts, children constitute about 40 per cent, i.e. 34.4 lakhs.
It figures
Going by the estimated figure of one case of blindness for every 1,000 children, about 3,440 children may be visually challenged in just these two districts. At least 50 per cent, i.e. 1,720 cases can be cured, according to K. Madhu, Executive Director of Goutami Eye Institute, a Rajahmundry-based hospital, which conducts free eye care camps for children below 16 years of age through its pediatric service wing Thondepu Bharathidevi Centre for Chidren’s Eye Care.
The hospital is conducting a free eye care camp for the first time in Krishna district on July 15 (Sunday) at the Rotary Red Cross Blood Bank, Gandhi Nagar. Registration can be done at the camp from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the same day. Dr. V.K. Raju, a well-known US-based ophthalmologist along with Dr. Madhavi, a paediatric oriented ophthalmologist will examine the children at the camp.
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