Health Dept holds awareness seminar on eye donation campaign
Initiative aims to help restore sight and address corneal shortage
Ferozepur, August 26, 2026: An awareness seminar on the importance of eye donation was organised at Civil Hospital, with the objective of encouraging people to donate their eyes and addressing the shortage of corneas required for transplantation.
The seminar was held under the National Eye Donation Fortnight being observed under the directions of Civil Surgeon Dr Meenakshi Dhingra and the leadership of Senior Medical Officer Dr Nikhil Gupta. Citizens were urged to come forward and pledge to donate their eyes after death.
Speaking on the occasion, ophthalmologist Dr Dikshit Singla said that nearly 1.1 million people in India suffer from corneal blindness. Around 25,000 new cases are reported every year, placing additional pressure on the already limited resources. The country requires more than 100,000 corneal transplants annually, but only around 25,000 to 40,000 transplants are performed.
He said that the donation of eyes by one person could help restore sight to two people suffering from corneal blindness, thereby contributing towards the goal of making the country free from corneal blindness.
Highlighting the importance of eye donation, ophthalmologist Dr Ashmita Bajaj said, “Eye donation is a miracle of modern medicine, where one decision can illuminate the worlds of two people.” She said this selfless act enables recipients to regain their vision even after the donor has passed away, helping them reconnect with their loved ones, enjoy life and experience its beauty.
District Mass Media Officer Sanjeev Sharma said that Punjab has 10 registered eye banks and 21 transplant centres. He said that after pledging to donate their eyes, donors should inform their family members to ensure a smooth donation process.
In the event of the donor’s death, the family should immediately contact the nearest eye bank. He stressed that the corneas must be collected within six hours for transplantation. By following these steps, families can help streamline the donation process and enable people in need to see the world.
Ophthalmic Officer Ashu Sharma, Pharmacy Officer Shivani Shukla, Nursing Sister Shureshta Sharma, Staff Nurses Pinky and Inderjit, along with other hospital staff, were also present at the seminar.