Slum kids screened for eye defects

Source: TOI

TNN 26 October 2009, 03:13am IST

BANGALORE: Continuing with its Slum 10K Project, Narayana Nethralaya along with with NGOs Aruna Chethana and Seva Bharathi conducted its sixth

free children's eye-screening and treatment camp on Sunday.

The event was inaugurated by minister for higher education, Aravind Limbavalli at Government Model Higher Primary School, Varthur Road, Marthalli. During the camp, free treatment, including spectacles and surgery were performed at Narayana Nethralaya.

At the camp, 1,350 children from slums were screened by a team of over 20 ophthalmologists from Narayana Nethralaya and volunteering organizations.

"So far, we have screened 8,000 children and hope to complete our target of 10,000 by the year end," said Dr Anand Vinekar, paediatric retinal surgeon and project co-ordinator, Narayana Nethralaya.

Dr Bhujang Shetty, chairman and MD of Narayana Nethralaya said: "This project is one of our paediatric initiatives to commemorate our 25th year and to do our humble bit to reduce childhood blindness -- our thrust area of specialization."

The next camp is scheduled for December. Those interested in volunteering can contact the paediatric helpline of Narayana Nethralaya at 9980980093.