Lok Sabha Question No. 3250 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Awarenes Campaign for Eye Donation
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3250 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2021

## AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR EYE DONATION

## 3250.  SHRI MOHANBHAI   KALYANJI KUNDARIYA SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

a): whether the  Government  while taking cognizance of the births and death ratio proposes to conduct  awareness campaign for motivating eye donation across the country in order to make India  blind free nation;

- b) if so, the details thereof ;and
2. c): if not, the reasons therefore?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR.BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

## (a) to (c):

As  per  National  Blindness  &  Visual  Impairment  Survey  (2015-19),  the  cataract  and  the corneal  disease  were  found  to  be  the  major  causes  of  blindness.  National  Programme  for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCB&VI) conducts Information, Education &Communication  (IEC)  campaigns  on  regular  basis  for  promoting  eye  donation  in  the country.

NPCB&VI is working towards creating awareness about eye donation among the masses and topromote eye banking and eye donation with the help of other stakeholders. The following events/activities are being undertaken in this regard:

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-  Celebrating Eye Donation Fortnight from 25th August to 8th  September;
-  Broadcasting of  video  clips  and  audio  messages  in  various  national  languages  through TV and radio channels;
-  Appointment of Eye Donation Counselors in the identified Eye  Banks to promote eye donation and timely collection of donated eyes.
-  Grant  in AID    to the States/UTs for promoting IEC activities and Strengthening of Eye Banks  and  Eye  Donation  Centers  in  the  country  by  providing  required  ophthalmic equipments and manpower.
-  In-service training of doctors in Eye Banking & Corneal Transplantation Surgery.
-  Continuation of dedicated phone line 1919 automatically linked with the area Eye Banks in metro cities
-  Promotion through print and electronic media
-  Organizing rallies in public places
-  Poster competition and awareness amongst school children
-  Honoring donor families in the annual functions organized by major eye banks during Eye Donation Fortnight.

In  addition,the  National  Organ  &  Tissue  Transplant  Organization  (NOTTO),  Ministry  of Health & Family Welfare is also conducting awareness campaign on entire Organ Donation, including eye donation. This year following campaigns have been organized by NOTTO:-

-  Organized  Indian  Organ  Donation  Day  (DAIC),  Janpath,  New  Delhi  on  27 th November, 2021.
-  In India International Trade Fair (IITF)-2021 held during14 th to 27 th November, 2021 in PragatiMaidan, New Delhi approximately  300 pledges were received for  Organ Donation..
-  Regularly posting awareness posts on Twitter to increase and strengthen the Organ Donation Programme.
-  Organized  poster  making  competition  at  Nehru  Planetarium,  New  Delhi  on  22 nd November,2021

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