Manipur Health & IPR Minister Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh today inaugurated the Manipur State Eye Bank at State Ophthalmic Cell, Lamphel. The inaugural function was organised by the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI), National Health Mission in association with the Directorate of Health Services, Manipur.

Health Minister, Dr. Ranjan said that opening the Eye Bank is teamwork and it is important to work with dedication and sincerity to fight against blindness. He said that the support extended by the private eye hospitals is being acknowledged by the health department in fighting against blindness. The minister added that he would like to thank the experts in the hospitals for their contribution to this field.

Minister stated that the concept of donating eye is interpreted very differently among the laymen and they are quite apprehensive with this idea. In this matter, specialists and ophthalmologists should make the people aware that the donation is only a small/thin part of the eye called cornea and will not be known that it is being taken out. If this awareness is inculcated in the minds of the people, more and more people will come out to pledge to donate their eyes and will be beneficial to society, he added.

Stating that he had already pledged to donate his eye in the year 2018, the Minister said that all of us should come up with the idea of donating the eye. Taking the opportunity of the presence of the ophthalmologists, the Minister raised the issue of glaucoma, which is mostly detected in the last stage, and asked the doctors/ophthalmologists to screen patients minutely for detecting glaucoma. For the programme, buses have been allotted to provide service to the people to reach to all areas of the State. The bus service needs to operate effectively to serve and receive the blessings of the people, he added.

Minister further added that the area of the Eye Bank should be kept very hygienic as post-operative complications arise often and to maintain such condition, funds will eventually be allotted as it is for the welfare of the people. Wishing the Eye Bank a successful venture ahead, the Minister said that when the Eye Bank is fully functional, more and more people will come up to donate their eyes.

Pradeep Kumar Jha, Commissioner, Health & FW, stated that Manipur is the fourth state in the northeast to open an eye bank. It is a major achievement of the health department even though some things are to be put in place, he added.

He further added that awareness is very important to encourage more and more people to enable them to pledge to donate their eyes. We need to fight against the misconceptions regarding the donation of organs among the public and the officials in all districts of the state should make the people aware of the importance of donating organs. He also lauded the entire team of the health department for their contribution and encouraged them to make it a centre of excellence.

Prior to the inauguration of the Eye Bank, Minister Dr. Sapam Ranjan inaugurated a conference hall at the Medical Directorate for the State Health Society, NHM, Manipur.

Minister handed over the two-wheeler keys to be used in the eye bank and Donor Cards were also distributed to the persons who had pledged to donate their eyes.  

Dr. Kh. Sasheekumar Mangang, Director, Health Services, Manipur and Dr. Somorjit Ningombam, State Mission Director, NHM, Manipur were on the dais as Guest of Honour respectively. Dr. Vikram Singh Koisnam, SNO NPCH & VI, NHM; Dr. N. Reagan, In-charge Medical Director, Manipur State Eye Bank; Dr. Jayshree Takhellambam, Ophthalmologist, CMOU(I), Senior Ophthalmologists, Officials, Faculty Members, Donors and staffs also attended the inaugural function. 

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