Agreement for operation of cornea collection center

KATHMANDU, July 14: Tilaganga Institute of Ophthalmology and the Sahid Gangalal National Heart Center have signed an agreement on operation of a cornea donation consultancy services and cornea collection center. The center would come into operation from July 13.

CEO at the Institute, Dr Rita Gurung and Executive Director of the Center, Dr Jyotindra Sharma exchanged letters to this effect on behalf their respective institutions.

Following the exchange of letters, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population Deependra Raman Singh said Institute and the Center have carried out the works which should otherwise have been carried out by the government. He pledged full support on behalf the ministry in this pious work of providing sight to the blind.

CEO Gurung said although it was difficult in the past to make people understand the value of eye donation, they have become successful in convincing the people to a greater extent now. She stressed the need of expanding cornea collection centres in hospitals across the country.

Executive Director of the Center Dr Jyotindra Sharma stressed on promoting the culture of eye donation in the country.

President of Nepal Eye Donors Society, Jagannath Maharjan, said they have the objective of setting up cornea collection centers at government hospitals in the districts as well.

Nepal Eye Bank has been facilitating in the collection of cornea and eye donation.
More than 70 thousand donors have pledged to donate eyes posthumously to the Eye Bank. Over 12,500 people have benefited from cornea transplantation so far.
The Eye Bank was set up on September 16, 1994. RSS