Gujarat minister urges wider eye donation awareness as ‘National Eye Donation Fortnight’ begins

Ahmedabad, Aug 25 (IANS) With India facing a significant gap between the number of people requiring corneal transplants and the availability of donated corneas, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya on Tuesday urged people to create greater awareness about eye donation and encourage more people to pledge their eyes.

Speaking at a public awareness programme at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital in Asarwa to mark the 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight, Pansheriya said the fortnight is observed annually from August 25 to September 8 to raise awareness about eye donation and eye diseases.

“Everyone must make a collective effort to create awareness about eye donation and inspire more and more people to donate their eyes,” Pansheriya said.

According to the figures cited by the minister, around 1.5 lakh people in India require corneal transplants every year, while approximately 50,000 corneas are donated.

Of these, around 25,000 to 30,000 patients regain their vision through successful surgery.

Pansheriya said eye donation is a form of service to humanity, as corneas can be retrieved within three to six hours after a person’s death and used to restore sight to people in need.

He also highlighted advances in medical technology, saying improved facilities had made early diagnosis and treatment of several eye conditions possible.

“Cataracts, which were earlier regarded as a serious eye disease, can now be diagnosed and treated successfully with timely medical intervention. The government is also undertaking work to address eye-related problems among animals in the state,” he added.

The minister said Ahmedabad and Surat civil hospitals had gained recognition nationally for their work in organ donation.

Ahmedabad Civil Hospital was recently recognised as the Best Non-Transplant Organ Retrieval Centre at the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day ceremony.

During 2025-26, the hospital retrieved 171 organs and 34 tissues from 48 deceased donors among 104 reported brain-stem death cases.

During the programme, Pansheriya felicitated 12-year-old Urvi, who received the “gift of sight” through eye donation. The family of late Zeel Vaghela was also honoured for her organ donation, through which her heart, valves, eyes and other organs helped provide a new lease of life to needy patients.

Doctors and hospital staff recognised for their work in eye healthcare were presented with certificates by the minister. Those attending the programme also took a pledge to promote eye donation.

Pansheriya additionally flagged off an ambulance donated by Ram-Shyam Charitable Mandal and an eye donation awareness rally organised by the Civil Eye Hospital.

Health Commissioner Ratankanwar Gadhvicharan, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi, and Spine Institute Director Dr Piyush Mittal, along with medical experts, beneficiaries, families of organ donors and hospital staff attended the programme.

–IANS

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