Aravind Eye Care System has received an award from eINDIA 2009 for IT initiatives undertaken in the vision centres. Aravind’s nominated project 'Health Management Research Initiative' has been declared the winner of eINDIA 2009 Award in the category of 'Innovative Grassroots Telecentre of the Year'. The award was presented at the awards ceremony at eINDIA 2009 event held on 26th Aug 2009 at Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Hyderabad.

Indian Council of Medical Research has selected Dr.P.Sundaresan for “ICMR Prize for Biomedical Research for scientists belonging to underprivileged communities" in recognition of his significant contributions in biomedical research.

The awards presentation ceremony is to be held at New Delhi. Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Hon'ble Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India has consented to give away the awards.

New Vision Centre was inaugurated at Alandurai at Coimbatore. The centre was inaugurated by Alandurai by Lion. R.Madhanagopal ( Lions Vice District Governer -District 324 B1), in the presence of Dr. V. Narendran, CMO, Aravind-Coimbatore, Dr. Manohar Babu, Camp Medical Officer, Lion. Saji David- Second Vice District Governor - Lions district 324 B1, Mr. Sivasamy - Executive Officer, Puluvapatti Town Panchayat and ward members. A total of 45 peoples (local leaders, private shoppers, government officers BSNL, Panchayat board members,) attended the function.

Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank (RAIEB) celebrated its 10 years of Eye Banking at LAICO on May 1, 2009 when the Active Eye collection centres from 12 districts of Tamilnadu were honoured.

The programme started with the lighting of Kuthuvilakku by Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Dr.G.Natchiar, Vice-Chairman, past rotary governors Rtn.Ramanathan, Rtn.Shanmugasundaram and Mr.Lalji Vora. (Milan Proprietor). Dr.S.R.Krishnadas, CMO, Aravind-Madurai delivered welcome address.

Dr.P.Namperumalsamy released the 10 yrs souvenir and appreciated the Eye Collection centres for their wonderful work. Felicitation address was given by Dr.Kousalya Devi, Kasthuribai Hospital, Gandhigram, Rtn. M.N.Nayagam, Rtn.Ramanathan, Rtn.Lalji Vora and Rtn.Shanmugasundaram. Dr.M.Srinivasan, Director-AECS and RAIEB, explained the genesis of Madurai Eye Bank Association (MEBA) and RAIEB. Various Lions Clubs and NGOs were honoured during the celebration for the collection of 14,232 eyes in 10 years. Ms. Hepsiba Jawahar, Eye Bank manager delivered vote of thanks.

Aravind Eye Hospital’s City Centre was inaugurated on 13th March 2009 at 135, Palace road, Madurai by Sri. G. Srinivasan, Director-Fianance, Aravind Eye Care System. The solemn and simple ceremony was attended by Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Dr. G. Natchiar, Vice Chairman, Dr.M.Srinivasan, Director and other senior leaders of Aravind. Two bronze Kuthuvilakkus were lighted by the leaders and prominent invitees followed by distribution of sweets to the selected gathering.

The centralised A/C outpatient section is housed in a compact refurbished building. It consists of separate cabins for refractionists and doctors for examining patients. An optical shop is also available to enable the patients to purchase spectacles of their choice.

After the inauguration ceremony, the City Centre which is mainly intended for employees working in offices and industrial / commercial establishments as well as students started to function. The centre will have Friday as weekly holiday, keeping open on Sundays also. On the last Sunday (15.03.2009) a total of 98 patients including 3 review patients were examined.

Aravind Eye Hospital has established TIFAC-CORE (Centre of Relevance and Excellence) to carry out studies on various aspects of Diabetic Retinopathy. This workshop was organised as a part of the TIFAC-CORE project at Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Dr. G. Venkataswamy Eye Research Institute, Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai.

Flow cytometry (FCM) is a widely used technique, not only in immunology and hematology but also in many other domains and new applications have been developed in ophthalmology, for investigating ocular surface biology and pathophysiology.

The five day workshop included lectures from 5 pioneers in the field of Flow Cytometry:
  • Dr. Attila Tarnok, University of Leipzig, Germany
  • Dr. James F. Leary, Purdue University, USA
  • Dr. Robert M Zucker, US Environmental Protection Agency, USA
  • Dr. Susann Muller, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ, Germany and
  • Dr. Henning Ulrich, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

The sessions highlighted recent advancements in the field of Flow Cytometry and its various applications. The practical sessions included the demonstration of basics of analytical Cytometry and training of students in cytometry techniques and its applications in ophthalmic research. A total of 12 participants from various research institutes and colleges attended the training programme.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, AECS has been awarded Padmashree Dr. JS Mahashabde Memorial IAGICEH Award 2008 by International Centre for Eye Health, London at the AIOS Conference, Jaipur, February 3, 2009.

On behalf of our Chairman, Dr. Naresh K Babu, Senior Consultant, Retina Vitreous Services has received the award from Dr Mathur, Vice - Chancellor of Rajasthan Health University. The meeting was presiding over by Dr. Swapan Samantha, Secretary of ICEH Alumini Indian Chapter.

This award was given as a mark of recognition towards his lift long selfless devoted community eye health care services around the Indian subcontinent.

Dr. P Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System, (with his initiation as the Co-ordinator, TIFAC-CORE in Diabetic Retinopathy) is chosen for the Health Care & Life Sciences Award the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 for his contribution to super-specialty Ophthalmology and his pioneering work in medical and surgical treatment of diseases of retina and vitreous in India.

Also, the awards were given to various categories such as Lifetime Achievement, Infrastructure & Construction, manufacturing, Start-Up Entrepreneur, Services, Business Transformation, Manager at the award ceremony.

Ernst & Young organised its tenth ‘Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year Awards 2008’ on Wednesday, November 26, at the Taj Land’s End in Mumbai. As many as 400 of the country’s leading industrialists and corporate personalities gathered at the occasion.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year has recognized and honored over 70 exemplary Indian entrepreneurs, who have helped put the country on the global stage. Across 135 cities and 50 countries, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year is the worlds most prestigious and coveted business award for entrepreneurs.

Medical research should be oriented towards finding solutions to unique problems faced in India and developing effective medicines at affordable cost, said the former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam after inaugurating the Dr. G. Venkataswamy Eye Research Institute.

Calling upon all those involved in a wide spectrum of medical field in the Aravind Eye Care System (AECS) to come together to find solutions to all forms of avoidable blindness, Mr. Kalam wanted the institute to focus on finding the unique index for body mass among Indians. Research should also be undertaken to find out the index-specific gene that caused diabetic retinopathy among those with diabetes.

He pointed out that diabetic people in Orissa did not develop diabetic retinopathy. Was this due to the habit of consuming fresh water fish, he wondered and wanted medical researchers to find out the link. He said there was a need to develop a medicine for fungal infection of the cornea and a cost-effective medicine for glaucoma. Research should also focus on predicting the predisposition of a child in the womb to eye diseases.

Mr. Kalam said though the AECS had been winning several awards the greatest award would be getting “light from darkness” for millions of people across the globe. The institute, he said, was the most fitting tribute to Dr. Venkataswamy, who had created a brand in eye care delivery from south Tamil Nadu, on his 90th birthday. The research institute would create a global brand in research and accelerate the movement towards eradication of needless blindness.

M. Natarajan, Principal Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister, said the AECS was able to perform over 2 lakh cataract surgeries per year through effective strategies that transcended the barriers of poverty and ignorance. He was confident that the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which was doing collaborative research with AECS, would be in a position to come out with a bionic eye in the next 10 years. Wallace J. Lee Alward, Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa, expressed the hope that Aravind would enjoy the same level of success in research as it had in treatment and manufacturing (lens and drugs). Pararajasekaram, former World Health Organisation consultant from Sri Lanka, recalled how Dr. Venkataswamy’s work embodied Gandhian principles.

P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, AECS, recalled the various stages of the mission of eliminating needless blindness in society. VR. Muthukaruppan, Director, Research, outlined the scope for the Rs.29 crore facility in various areas of ophthalmic research.

Aurolab participated in the 56th Annual Conference of Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Association held at Chennai from 8-10. A team from Aurolab took part in the trade fair of TNOA conference. Aurolab was given the Best Stall Award for its stall exhibited in the conference. Aurolab took this opportunity to introduce its new product “Aurosling” - an implantable flexible silicon rod swaged to malleable sharp needles with a 7mm silicon sleeve and also promoted the existing products to the ophthalmic society. Many delegates who attended the conference visited Aurolab’s stall and viewed the products promoted by the staff members.

Mr. Poornachandran of Aravind’s Instruments Maintenance department was awarded the Deaf Leaders Award for 2008. The award was presented to him on August 23, 2008 at the 5th year anniversary celebrations of DEAF LEADERS (Deaf Empowerment Activities for Literacy, Education, Accessible Development, Employment, Rehabilitation and Sports) at Coimbatore. Last year at the meeting of the organisation, Mr. Poornachandran had given a “talk” using sign language and a power point presentation on his work at Aravind.

Dr.G.Venkataswamy Eye Research Institute organized the 17th annual meeting of the Indian Eye Research Group (IERG) at Aravind-Madurai from July 26-27, 2008.

Dr. VR.Muthukkaruppan, Director-Research, AMRF welcomed the gathering.
Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, AECS delivered the inaugural address. A total of 120 delegates including scientists, ophthalmologists and researchers from leading eye institutes, Universities and National Institutes in India participated in the conference.

During the conference, the papers were presented on recent trends and developments in various fields of Ophthalmology: Molecular genetics, Proteomics, Cell biology, Stem cells, Microbiology, Ocular pharmacology, Epidemiology were presented and discussed in detail.

Two oration awards were arranged by the IERG Organizing committee. Dr. G. Natchair, Vice Chairman, AECS presented Dr. G.Venkataswamy Memorial Oration award to Dr. Fielding Hejtmancik, Chief, Department of Genetics, National Eye Institute, USA. His oration was on "The Barbados Family study of open Angle Glaucoma: Recent Progress". Dr. Anand Swaroop, Senior Investigator and Chief, Neurobiology Neurodegeneration and repair Laboratory (N-NRL), National Eye Institute, USA received the Bireswar Chakrabarti Memorial Oration Award from
Dr. P. Namperumalsamy. He delivered the oration entitled "Retinal Development and Degeneration: Treatment Paradigms form Basic Biology".

Dr. Haripriya Aravind
- Role of optic material and haptic design on incidence of posterior capsule opacification
- What’s new in cataract surgery

A total of 40 oral and 49 poster presentations, the following were awarded the Best oral and poster presentations. S. Vaishali, AMRF, Madurai and J. Nirmal, AIIMS, New Delhi received the Best Oral Award. GP.Surya Prakash, LVPEI, Hyderabad & V. Sasikala, University of Kerala, Kerala received Best Poster Award. Ten young research scholars were given Travel Fellowship. Dr. Lalitha Prajna and Dr. P.Sundaresan from Aravind Eye Care System organized the scientific sessions.

Apollo Hospitals have conferred an award on Aravind Eye Care System in recognition of redefining quality eye care, for pioneering a self-sustaining system that has overcome barriers of distance, poverty and ignorance, and taken eye-care to the doorstep of rural India. Chairman Dr. P.Namperumalsamy was honoured with the award on the occasion of Doctors’ Day celebration on July 20, 2008. The celebration was organized by Apollo Hospitals at Hotel Taj Coramendal, Chennai.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman and Dr. G. Natchiar, Vice-Chairman of AECS participated in the celebration. The Chairman of Apollo Hospitals presided over the function and the Honourable Union Minister for Finance Shri P. Chidambaram presented the awards and delivered the special address. The award received by Dr. P.N. carries a Citation Block and a cash of Rs. 2 lacs.

Dr. P.Namperumalsamy, chairman, Aravind Eye Care System received the BC Roy Award (for 2006), on July 1, 2008. President Pratibha Patil presented the B.C. Roy National Awards for Medicine to eminent doctors at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on July 1, 2008.

The doctors were felicitated for their contributions to medical research, teaching and development of specialities in various branches of medicine. The awards for 2005, 2006 and 2007 were given to 55 doctors for their contributions to various medical disciplines, including psychiatry, gastroenterology, oncology, urology and cardiology.

Aravind Eye Care System has won the Piramal Prize for its innovative rural eye care service through the IT enabled Vision centres which offer telemedicine facility to eye patients in the villages. The Rs. 10 lakh prize was awarded by the Piramal Foundation and centre of Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship, a wing of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

A memorandum on the Vision Centre Programme initiated by Chairman Dr. P. Namperumalsamy was submitted and explained to the panel by Mr. V. Vijayakumar, Project Manager and Mr. Mohammed Gowth, Assistant Manager, Camp office. Out of the 300 odd applicants, Aravind got through the selection process and won the prize. Both the Aravind staff received the award at a function held on June 30, 2008 at Ahmedabad.

To recognise the employees' collective contributions and joint efforts that have earned for Aravind prestigious international awards like the Champalimaud Vision Award and Gates Award for Global Health, Aravind Eye Care System held a function - "Sangamam"- on June 24, 2008.

The function, was attended by special invitees and chief guest Mr. Raja Govindasamy, Principal, Thyagarajar Arts college. Mr. Sanil Joseph rendered prayer song.

Dr. R. Krishnadas, CMO, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, delivered welcome address. He acknowledged the services of everyone and congratulated all employees for their contributions.

Chairman Dr. P.Namperumalsamy in his thanks giving speech said, "All we have achieved is the achievement of each one of you. It is the award for each and every one of you who is working for Aravind. Without your individual contributions this achievement would not have been possible".

Mr. Raja Govindaswamy paid compliments to the united work of Aravind employees and admired the honesty and sincerity with which they are functioning. A skit that demonstrated the kind and compassionate service of Aravind doctors and other employees received acclamation from the audience. Dr. Ramakrishnan, Assistant Administrator, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai proposed a vote of thanks. The National Anthem was played by representatives of various departments.

Sangamam '08 was celebrated at Aravind-Puducherry on June 20. Programme commenced with the prayer song, Mr. Poobalan, Manager-Administration welcomed the gathering and Dr. Venkatesh, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, explained the Genesis of Aravind through power point presentation. Dr. R.D. Ravindran, CMO gave a motivational talk and explained about the prestigious awards of AECS got during the recent time with slides showing the presentation ceremony.

Mr. Vijay Poddar, Pondicherry Ashramam and Mr. Muthuramalingam, Madhuranthagam were the special guest for the function. During their felicitation speech they shared their experience with Aravind Eye Hospital and how the team has worked to get such awards. They congratulated the entire staff for their service and emphasized that the sincere service extended to the patients is considered much more recognition than the Awards.

The video clipping of Dr.Allen Foster’s inspiring speech during the inauguration of the Aurolab was shown to the audience with Tamil translation. A few letters of feedback about Aravind’s services, received from patients were read to audience. Dr. Badrinath Talwar thanked the gathering.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System received the prestigious Gates Award for Global Health for 2008 on May 29, 2008. In a grand ceremony held at Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington D.C, U.S.A, Bill Gates Sr, presented the $ 1 million Gates Award to our chairman. Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Joint Director, AECS also attended the function. (Read More)

Dr. Narendran, Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore and his team successfully performed the first case of Ophthalmic Brachytherapy using Iodine 125 seeds manufactured by Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) on May 26, 2008. It is a case of a large choroidal melanoma. Last week they did their second case and the third case is due next week. This is the first time in India that I-125 seeds from BARC are using commercially which had earlier been used only in pilot studies.

Aravind Eye Care System Wins $1 Million Prize for Preventing and Curing Blindness in India's Poorest Communities.

SEATTLE - In recognition of its groundbreaking work to prevent debilitating blindness and provide affordable, world-class eye care to the poor, the Aravind Eye Care System, based in Tamil Nadu, India, has won the 2008 Gates Award for Global Health. The $1 million Gates Award—the world's largest prize for international health—honors extraordinary efforts to improve health in developing countries.

Founded by Dr. G. Venkataswamy in 1976, Aravind has saved millions of people in India from debilitating blindness. Cataracts account for more than half the cases of blindness in India. In the past year, Aravind provided out-patient care to approximately 2.4 million patients and performed more than 280,000 surgeries. Thanks in part to Aravind's efforts, the estimated number of blind people in India fell from 8.9 million in 1990 to 6.7 million in 2002, a decline of 25%.

William H. Gates Sr., co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will present the award on May 29 at the Global Health Council's 35th Annual International Conference in Washington, DC.

"Being blind in a rural village in the developing world leaves a person in darkness and dependence, often unable to earn a living or assist in the duties of their household," said Mr. Gates. "Aravind has given sight to millions of men, women, and children, enabling them to participate fully in the lives of their families and communities."

Since 1976, Aravind has grown from a rented house with 11 beds to a thriving network of hospitals and satellite clinics that provide eye exams and surgeries, train health care professionals, conduct research, and manufacture eye care products.

Outreach teams from Aravind hospitals coordinate with local leaders and service groups across India to organize "eye camps" that provide free exams. Since 2004, Aravind has used high-speed broadband access to link these camps directly to on-call doctors in central hospitals. The doctors can diagnose and refer patients in real time, ensuring that only those who require surgery make the journey to the hospital.

"All people have a right to sight," said Dr. Perumalsamy Namperumalsamy, chairman of Aravind. "We hope that this award will encourage others to develop creative, sustainable solutions to blindness and other global health challenges."

Aravind's innovative business model enables it to provide the same high-quality care to every patient, regardless of their ability to pay, without charitable contributions. The organization enlists local businesses to sponsor eye care hospitals, and subsidizes care for the poor through fees from paying patients and global sales of eye care products.

"Ensuring that the world's poorest people can access essential health care is an ongoing challenge in global health," said Dr. Nils Daulaire, president of the Global Health Council. "Aravind has demonstrated that there are ways to do good and commit to providing the highest quality services while utilizing the latest technologies and scientific advances."

About the Gates Award for Global Health
The Gates Award for Global Health was established by Bill and Melinda Gates in 2000 to recognize exemplary work in international health. The Global Health Council coordinates the selection process for and presentation of the Gates Award at its Annual International Conference.

Previous recipients of the Gates Award include Thailand's Population and Community Development Association for its innovative work in family planning and HIV prevention (2007); the Carter Center, for its pioneering work to fight neglected diseases (2006); the African Medical and Research Foundation, for improving health in some of Africa's poorest communities (2005); the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, for community-based health programs (2004); the Brazilian National AIDS Program, for its integrated approach to HIV prevention and treatment (2003); the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, for contributions to polio eradication (2002); and the ICDDR,B Center for Health and Population Research, for the discovery of a diarrhea therapy that has saved millions of lives (2001).

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

CME Programme on Paediatric Eye Diseases and Radiology in Paediatrics was conducted for Paediatricians at Aravind-Tirunelveli on April 20. A total of 45 Pediatricians from Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari Districts participated in the CME. Dr.Gopinath, Radiologist and Dr.S.Raju, Paediatrician were invitied as Chief Guest.

The CME started with welcome address by Dr.R.Ramakrishnan, CMO, Aravind-Tirunelveli, followed by Dr.Meenakshi, Paediatric Ophthalmologist who spoke on "Paediatric Eye Diseases". Dr.Ankit Avasthi spoke on "Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). Dr.R.Ramakrishnan gave a talk on "Developmental Glaucoma". Dr.Gopinath, Radiologist from Aarthi CT Scan spoke about "Paediatric Radiology" and Dr.S.Raju, Paediatrician from Krishna Nursing Home about "Torch Infections". All the participants of the CME were given laminated Snellen chart with instructions to be displayed in their Clinics. This was given with an aim to create Vision Corridor.

The Aravind Eye Care System (AECS) won one more laurel when Modern Medicare Excellence Awards 2007 were presented in Mumbai on March 14, 2008. Mr. RD. Thulasiraj, Executive Director, LAICO has been Chosen as the "ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR". The awards were introduced last year by GE Healthcare in association with Info Media India to honour individuals and institutions for their outstanding contribution healthcare. Since he was on foreign tour, Mr. Sanil Joseph, Faculty, LAICO received the award.

Kurinjippadi Primary Eye Testing Centre (Vision Centre) was inaugurated on February 6, 2008. Tamil Nadu Health Minister, Honorable. M.R.K. Panneerselvam inaugurated the Centre in the presence of Mr. Rajendra Ratnu, District Collector, Cuddalore, Dr. N. Raja, Joint Director, Health, Cuddalore, Mr. R. Shanmuga Sundaram, Chairman, Panchayat Union, Kurinjippadi and Mrs. Thaiyal Nayagi, President, Panchayat, Kurinjippadi. Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Venkatesh, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Dr. Thiruvenkata Krishnan, Medical Officer, welcomed the Guests.

Primary Eye Testing Centre at Surandai was inaugurated on 22nd Februray 2008, by Dr.R.Ramakrishnan,Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirunelveli. It is 45 Kms from Tirunelveli. The beginning was so encouraging and motivating, that out patient Department registered 108 Patients on the inaugural day.

The New Primary Eye Testing Centre at Punjai Puliyampatti was inaugurated on February 24 near Aravind-Coimbatore. Dr.Narendran, CMO, Aravind-Coimbatore inaugurated the Centre.

Primary Eye Testing Centre at Vilathikulam was inaugurated on February 25 by C.M.O Dr.R.Ramakrishnan. On the inaugural day, 125 outpatients were examined which is the highest so far.

Aravind’s online Virtual ophthalmic Academy was inaugurated on January 19, 2008 by Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, former President of India. Dr.Sathyamurthy, Director, ANTRIX Corp., ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) gave addresses in the function to be attended by distinguished guests and ophthalmologists. Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System, delivered welcome address.

Networking of leading healthcare providers will help in sharing of knowledge, which will ultimately facilitate research in finding cure for diseases unique to the region, former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said here on Saturday.

Launching the Aravind Virtual Academy (AVA) at Aravind Eye Hospital, Mr. Kalam mooted networking of the hospital with leading eyecare providers such as Sankara Netralaya.

Periodic virtual meetings among them to discuss diseases unique to the region would even help in research in emerging areas. Stressing that knowledge should rule the pursuits of the AVA, Mr. Kalam said such a knowledge would blossom from creativity, righteousness and courage. L. Sathyamurthy, Director, Antrix Corporation, Indian Space Research Organisation, underscored the ambition of the organisation to apply space technology for the benefit of society.

Initially Aravind Virtual Academy covers the five centres of Aravind and later the network will be extended to 30 t0 40 partner hospitals out of 227 hospitals LAICO is currently working.

With the VSAT connectivity provided by ISRO, the classes conducted at Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai will be telecasted live to classes conducted in various centres. The transmission will also be recorded simultaneously in soft wares which could be utilised later at the convenience of the students.

Dr Ramakrishnan, Chief Medical Officer of Aravind-Tirunelveli has been accorded a rare distinction of being invited by Dr George Spaeth to be a distinguished member of the International Fellow of Spaeth Society (IFSS). This is a very rare and coveted recognition and he is probably the first resident Indian ophthalmologist to have received this honor.

Dr Ramakrishnan has been trained by Dr George L Spaeth at Wills Eye Hospital in 1989.

Dr George Spaeth, a renowned Glaucoma Specialist, is the Director of Glaucoma Services of Wills Eye Hospital of the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia (Philadelphia State, USA). This institute has been consistently in the list of the Top Ten Eye Hospitals in the USA for the past several years. Dr Spaeth has made significant contributions in our understanding of glaucoma and has been a teacher non-parallel in the last decades of the twentieth century.

His research activities are centered around the characterisation and natural history of the cardinal manifestations of glaucoma, in particular-the anterior chamber angle, the visual field and the optic nerve. His teachings have profoundly influenced students and practitioners of glaucoma around the globe and it is an extra ordinary moment of pride for all of us at Aravind to see Dr Ramakrishnan as an elite member of Spaeth’s International Society. The only precedent of such a significant recognition is that of Dr. Namperumalsamy who was made a distinguished fellow of the legendary Schepen’s International Alumni.

31st Annual Day Celebration was held at Aravind-Madurai on December 15. All senior members, Doctors and staff participated in the programme. Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director, AECS welcomed the gathering. Dr. Krishnadas, CMO, presented the Achievements of Aravind Eye Care System in the year 2007. A cultural Programme performed by Creche Children was held. Mr. Sanil Joseph, Faculty sang a song about “Madurai”. Dr. Aravind, Administrator, AECS proposed vote of thanks. Service Awards were given in the function. Dr. G. Natchiar, Vice-Chairman, gave away 30 years service awards to IOL, Aurolab and Ms. B. Radha Bai, Superintendent, Nursing. Dr. M. Srinivasan gave away 25 year service award to Ms. S. Krishnaveni, Assistant Nursing Superintendent and Mr. Poornachandran, Instruments Maintenance Department. Dr. Tamilarasi MS student received the 1 st rank holder award in MS study.

Rotary movement has conferred its prestigious “For the Sake of Honour Award” to Dr. M. Srinivasan, chief of Cornea clinic, Aravind Eye Hospital, on December 7, 2007.

Usually the awardee goes to the Rotary club to receive the award. In a rare gesture, and in recognition of the eye care services being rendered by Aravind, the office bearers and members of Rotary club of Madurai West came to Aravind to confer the award on Dr. M.S who is also the Director of Aravind Eye Hospitals and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology.

A special function was held at the main hospital’s auditorium for this purpose. Chairman Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Vice-Chairman, Dr. G. Natchiar, Dr. P. Vijaylakshmi, chief of paediatric ophthalmology clinic, senior staff members of Aravind and distinguished members of Rotary club attended the award ceremony. Mr.Jacob T. Abraham, President of Rotary club of Madurai west, welcomed the gathering.

Mr. Rajadurai, Governor, Rotary International District-3000, who conferred the award said that it is Rotary’s highest award given for service to humanity. He praised the eye care services of Dr. M. Srinivasan as an ophthalmologist and as a driving force of Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank. During the past 20 years the number of visually handicapped persons has gone down thanks to the services of institutions like Aravind Eye Care System, he said, Mr. Natanagopal introduced Dr. M.S. to the Rotarians. Mr. Raja Govindasamy read the citation.

Dr. M. Srinivasan in his thanks giving address said that the Eye Bank in Aravind was started in the year 1998 in collaboration with the Rotary club. Through this Eye Bank 12, 000 corneas have been collected for use in corneal transplantations. He suggested that Rotary International adopt one rotary district for eye donation so that it could concentrate on getting more eye donations. Rotary club secretary Rtn.A.P.Adithan, proposed a vote of thanks.

New Vision Centre at Madukarai was inaugurated on November 29, 2007 at Aravind-Puducherry. Vision Centre was inaugurated by Mr. V. Vaithilingam, Industries and Power Minister of Puducherry. Inauguration function was chaired by Mr. M.D.R. Ramachandran, Dr. R.D. Ravindran, CMO, and Dr. Venkatesh, Deputy Chief Medical Officer welcomed the gathering. 55 patients were registered in the Out Patient Department, out of which 5 were advised for GP and 5 were referred to base hospital for speciality services.

Fred Hollows Foundation had invited LAICO to deliver a customized version of the 2 week programme manager’s course for their programme staff. A four day training programme was organized by LAICO for their Sydney office for their central office staff as well as the country programme staff. Fred Hollows Foundation supports eye care in South Asia, South East Asia, Africa as well as to the indigenous population of Australia. A total of 21 participants attended the workshop. The LAICO training team comprised of Mr. R.D.Thulasiraj, Executive Director, LAICO, Dr Prajna, Aravind-Madurai, and Ms Preethi Pradhan, Senior faculty, LAICO. The sessions covered included needs assessment and planning, the eye diseases module covering cataract, refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy, low vision and paediatric eye care; core concepts in eye care management as well as monitoring evaluation and partner enablement.

World Diabetes Day was celebrated at Aravind-Madurai on November 14, to create awareness among the public about diabetes and its complications. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the complications of diabetes which affects blood vessels in the eye. The theme of this year's World Diabetes Day campaign is Diabetes in Children and Adolescents”

As part of the day’s Programme a “Mega Awareness Programme” was organized in collaboration with Dinamalar at Lakshmi Sundram hall, Madurai for the diabetic patients and public. Dr. R. Lakshmipathy, Publisher, Dinamalar, inaugurated the Programme and Dr. G. Natchiar, Vice Chairman, AECS gave a special address. Around 470 persons were participated in the Programme.

Mr. Raja (Pattimandra Pugal) delivered the guest’s address. Following this, “Patient and Doctor Interaction” session was conducted. The respective specialist answered the questions and participants’ doubts were clarified. Dr. K. Naresh babu delivered the vote of thanks.

A new Vision Centre was inaugurated on October 10 at Kinathukadavu by Dr. Narendran, CMO, Aravind-Coimbatore. It is 28 Kms from base hospital. Aravind has blended information technology innovatively into the center facilitating online (live) consultation for each patient with the Ophthalmologist at Aravind-Coimbatore which is a low cost telemedicine approach. This approach which is unique helps patients acquire right treatment advice directly from Ophthalmologist which saves lot of time and money to the patients. The center charges a nominal charge of Rs.20/- for outpatient visits. A total of 35 outpatients were registered on inaugural day.

Aravind Eye Care System launched the 4th edition of Neuro-ophthalmology text book on October 4, 2007. The launch function was held at Aravind Eye hospital during the Grand Rounds and telecasted to all the five hospitals. Dr. Pararajasegaram, Consultant, WHO, released the book. Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System, received the first copy in the presence of Dr. G. Natchiar, Vice-chairman. The fourth edition of Neuro-ophthalmology book was edited by Dr. Mahesh Kumar, Consultant, Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai. Dr. G. Natchiar, Vice-chairman, Aravind Eye Care System, in her speech recalled how the book had evolved over the past 4 editions with the 1st edition appearing in 1982 and which was popular among all the ophthalmology post graduate students in the country for the past 25 years.

Aravind Eye Care System launched eight training manuals as an offering to Dr. V on his 89th birth anniversary on October 1, 2007. Of the eight manuals, five are in the Ophthalmic Assistants Training series and the remaining three are in the Training in Eye Care support services series.

The launch function was held at the LAICO auditorium in the presence of foreign dignitaries, special invitees, Aravind leaders, staff and employees. Dr. G. Natchiar, Vice Chairman, AECS, while delivering her welcome address, explained in detail the genesis of the training manuals as visualised and aspired by Dr. V.

Dr. Willam F. Astle, President of the Joint commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) released the books. In his speech he dwelt on the association between JCAHPO and AECS and said that his organization has approved Aravind’s MLOPs training programmes in the year 1995. He expressed his happiness over the content of the new books and presented mementos to Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Dr. G. Nachiar and Dr. Usha Kim.

Dr. Usha Kim, Head of the MLOPs education and training programme spoke on the manuals. Dr. William H. Ehlers, President-Elect, JCAHPO, Ms. Lynn, Dr. Anderson, Executive Director of JCAHPO, Dr. Suzanne S. Gilbert, Director, Centre for Innovation in Eye Care, Seva Foundation, Dr. Pararajasegaram, WHO, Ms. Kathryn Hecht, Seva Volunteer from USA offered felicitations. Ms. Pattammal proposed vote of thanks.

Aurolab’s new facility was inaugurated at veerapanchan, in the beautiful Aurofarm complex, by Dr. Allen Foster, President, Christoffel Blinden Mission International, Germany on 30th September, 2007.

Dr. Foster said that the number of visually challenged people in the world has now come down to 37 million from the projected figure of 57 million thanks to the efforts of eye care systems such as Aravind. Such an effort was possible because of the vision, intelligence and passion with which AECS went about its job of preventing needless blindness. Providing good quality services at low cost for a high number of cases speak volumes about the efficiency and effectiveness of their eye care delivery system, he further said.

Offering felicitations, David Green, U.S. consultant, said Aurolab had a key role to play in catering to the medical needs of people belonging to the low income group by manufacturing and providing low-cost intraocular lens and other ophthalmic materials.

Collector S.S. Jawahar said AECS has become synonymous with quality, and the services rendered by them was remarkable.

Suzanne S. Gilbert, Director, Centre for Innovation in Eye Care, Seva Foundation, U.S., recalled how a survey in Nepal, which indicated more than half of the population were functionally blind when they shunned the use of thick spectacles after cataract surgery, propelled Dr. G. Venkataswamy, AECS founder, to start an exclusive production unit for manufacture of intraocular lenses at affordable cost.

Commending the services rendered to society by AECS, Karumuttu T. Kannan, managing director, Thiagarajar Mills, said Aravind Hospital had etched the name of the city in the world map. It had become a role model for other institutions.

Showering accolades on the founder of AECS, R. Pararajasekaran, consultant, World Health Organisation, said at a time when everyone exercised more caution than optimism while considering introduction of intraocular lens (IOL) in developing countries, it was Dr. Venkataswamy’s proactive approach which facilitated introduction of IOL in the country.

P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, AECS, G. Srinivasan, president, Aurolab Trust, P. Balakrishnan, Managing Director, Aurolab, S. Rethinavelu, president, Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, took part.

Gandhigram Vision Centre was inaugurated on September 17 by the Freedom Fighter LKB Lagumaiah and Dr.Kousalya Devi, Managing Trustee, Gandhigram in the presence of Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, AECS, Mr. G. Srinivasan, President, Govel Trust and Dr. G. Natchiyar, Vice Chairman, AECS, Mr.M.R.Rajagopal, Secretary, Gandhigram Trust, Mr.K.Shivakumar, Treasurer, Gandhigram Trust and many other dignitaries.

Gandhigram is located at 56 Km away from Madurai. The Vision Centre will provide Eye Care to the population of 1, 00,000. This is a first Vision Centre of Aravind in the Dindigul District.

The António Champalimaud Vision Award was presented to the Aravind Eye Care System at a ceremony in Lisbon. Chairman Dr. P. Namperumalsamy received the award.

On September 7 the inaugural of António Champalimaud Vision Award Ceremony was held at Lisbon, Portugal. The award carries with it 1 million Euros. The ceremony was taken place in the presence of the President of the Portuguese Republic, Aníbal Cavaco Silva. Dr. G. Natchiar, Vice-Chairman, Mr. G. Srinivasan, Director-Finance, Mr. R.D. Thulasiraj, Executive Director, LAICO also participated in the Ceremony.

The 22nd National Eye Donation Fortnight celebrations held at LAICO auditorium on the 6th September 2007 threw ample light on the gloomy situation of corneal blindness in India and also the imperative of taking measures to solve the problem.

Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director, A.E.C.S. in his special address revealed the stunning statistics of blindness caused by corneal damages and explained the services being rendered by Aravind Eye Bank. It is a good news for all those who are involved in promoting eye donations that two important requests made by him in this connection were responded on the spot by the District Collector Mr. S. S. Jawahar who delivered his presidential address in the function.

The Collector accepted one of the requests and announced that action will be taken in one week to issue free bus passes to the persons who bring donor eyes from outstations to the Eye Banks like Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank which are situated in cities. Dr. M. Srinivasan while drawing the attention of the Collector the difficulty in getting eyes from the bodies of dead persons had made a plea that the Human Organs Donation Act be amended to simplify the procedures pertaining to removal of eyes from the mortal remains. The Collector assured that he would talk to the concerned higher officials in this reagard.

As against the demand of 75,000 corneas per year for the purpose of restoring sight to the corneally blind, only 30,000 are available as at present. If the legal procedures are simplified, it will help to meet out the demand, Dr. M. S. had averred in his speech.

Emphasising the importance of eye donation, Dr. M. S. said that the Union Government has accorded utmost priority to controlling blindness under the National Programme for Control of Blindness. Of all the health related programmes, the blindness control programme is given much significance by celebrating the National Eye Donation Fortnight instead of celebrating it on a single day.

Whereas cataract affects mostly aged people, the majority of those suffering from corneal blindness are children and youngsters. For want of adequate number of donor corneas and for not having access to treatment facilities, many of these young people remain blind for most part of their life, Dr. M. S. said.

He informed that compared to other States, the performance of Tamilnadu in eye donation movement is much better. Last year it stood first in eye donations among all the states of India, the position previously held by Gujarat and Maharashtra. This achievement has been made possible by the members of Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs and other Non-Governmental Service organisations who are working relentlessly for eye donations. Dr. M. S. thanked and congratulated the eye donation motivators.

Collector Mr. Jawahar honoured top performers in the collection of eye donations with mementos. He lauded the efforts of Aravind Eye Hospitals and various organisations and also the individuals who are engaged in eye donation movement. He said that school and college students as well as members of self-help groups should be involved in this effort.

Mr. Varaprasada Rao, Chief Divisional Retail Sales Manager of the Indian Oil Corporation said that awareness programme on eye donation would be conducted at all its 20,000 petrol pumps and gas stations.

Mr. Anabhayarajan, who has donated the eyes of his deceased sister 3 years ago and the eye of his expired child a few months back spoke on the need for eye donations.

Mr. Raghuraman, father of a small boy Bharat kalyan who has regained sight by donated eyes thanked Aravind and Eye Bank for their help. He pledged to donate his own eyes.

The function commenced with the invocation song by Mr. Sanil Joseph, Faculty. Dr. S. R. Krishna Das, C.M.O. welcomed the gathering. Mrs. Nirmala, Manager, Aravind Eye Bank proposed a vote of thanks.

Prior to the LAICO function, an Eye donation awareness rally was flagged off by Mr. K. Nandabalan, Police Commissioner at Goripalayam junction. School and college students, mostly ladies, participated in the rally that ended at the LAICO.

“Multiple Facets of My Madurai” written by the great artist Mr. Manohar Devadoss was formally launched in Madurai on August 25, 2007.The function was held at LAICO auditorium with the participation of VIPs, officials and writers. Aravind Eye Hospitals, Madurai Corporation City Technical Advisory group and Madurai Readers club had organized the function.

Dr. P.Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System welcomed the gathering. The audience had a dose of enchanting experiences of Manohar Devadoss, as he drew a leaf from his 'Multiple Facets of My Madurai,' a compendium of fine art coupled with realistic representations, to take them down memory lane.

Mr. Manohar explained how he, an artist, turned into a writer. With a fading vision, caused by retinitis pigmentosa (a degenerative eye condition for which there is no cure) and overwhelming urge to record childhood reminiscences, he has sketched his emotions in 'black and white,' literally though.

Given his penchant for intricate art work, it became increasingly difficult for him to depict what all he wished to achieve through painting and that led him to writing, which turned out to be quite complementing and refreshing.

J. Vasanthan, retired English professor of the American College, remembered how Mr. Manohar and his wife Mahema made an ideal and beautiful couple. He wondered whether anyone with tragedy pounding from all corners would ever be as cheerful and whole-hearted as this couple. "Either that person would turn a 'Bible thumper' (read religious) or become an atheist. But not Manohar," he said in appreciation of their resilience.

Paying glorious tributes, Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System, said that the exponent had in possession the artistic vision to present pictures with details, which many would have missed. He said that Mr. Manohar could not benefit from the Aravind Eye Hospitals but the organisation had benefited from his benevolence. The author announced that the proceeds from the sale of a portion of his paintings would go to Aravind Eye Hospitals.

The Deputy Commissioner of Madurai Corporation, Mr. A. Ramachandran, released the first copy of the book which was received by Mr. Karumuttu T. Kannan, Chairman, Thiagarajar Mills. Mr. B.T. Bangera, President of Madurai Corporation Advising Group and Mr. R. Raja Govindasamy, Principal (in charge), Thiagarajar College, also paid tributes to the author.

Tibet Seva Sight Programme has signed a MoU with Kandze People’s Hospital in Oct 2006 to develop an exclusive eye hospital, Kham Eye Centre at Dartsedo, Eastern Tibet, China. In continuation to this, a team from LAICO comprising of Dr. R. D. Ravindran, Mr. Keerti Pradhan, Ms. Preethi Pradhan and Ms. Sasipriya KM made a visit to Kandze People’s Hospital (Kham Eye Centre) from August 14 -19 to carry out Needs Assessment Visit and conduct a Strategic Planning workshop to guide the team in planning the growth of the Kham Eye Centre in phased manner from the existing eye department to new set up. As part of the Needs Assessment Visit, LAICO team made field visits to a County Hospital and Primary Health Centre (Township hospital) to develop better understanding about current practices, process, community set up etc. Mr. Kunga Tashi, Programme Manager and Ms. Dolma Chugi, Programme Assistant, Tibet Seva Sight Programme, in addition to the overall visit co-ordination, also played a major role as Interpreters.

Mr. D. Nagarajan - SEVA Board Member, Dr. Sandra Dratler - Volunteer, SEVA Foundation & Mr.Suresh kumar- Faculty from LAICO visited the Kilimanjaro Center for Community Ophthalmology (Moshi, Tanzania) and Al Noor Foundation (Cairo, Egypt) during the first two weeks of August 2007 as a part of visioning process to the concerned Centre of Community Ophthalmology (CCO). Their purpose was to lead a process with each organization to establish a vision for their CCO development focused on 2010. In each organization the process was undertaken with full support of leadership and active participation from key staff members. As an outcome of the visit a detailed action plans was prepared for each organization. The team enjoyed the weekend by exploring Tarengari and Ngorongoro National Parks & at Egypt admired the Citadel overlooking a hazy Cairo; the National Museum; observing the technological wonders that are the Giza pyramids.

As a mark of commemorating his father Mr. Murosoli Maran's 73rd birth anniversary, Mr. Kalanidhi Maran, founder of the Sun Foundation has donated Rs.15 lakhs to Aravind Eye Care System for performing 2000 cataract operations for the poor people in the community. To hand over personally the donation, Mr. Dayanidhi Maran, Mrs. Kaviri Kalanidhi Maran and Sun Foundation members visited Aravind.

A special function was held on 18th August 2007 in LAICO Auditorium for this purpose.
Mr. Sanil Joseph, Faculty, rendered invocation song.
Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director – AECS, welcomed the guests.
Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman of AECS, in his special address explained the genesis of eye camp movement and the services being rendered by Aravind.
Mr. R. Meenakshi sundaram, Senior Manager - Outreach, gave a brief about AECS camp services.

Following this Mr. Dayanidhi Maran explained about Sun Foundation’s services to the poor people. He announced that the collaboration with Aravind will continue in the forthcoming years also with increased donation for restoring sight to poor people.

Mrs. Kaviri Kalanidhi Maran handed over the cheque to Dr. P. Namperumalsamy.

Mr. G. Srinivasan, President of Govel Trust, presented mementos to Mr. Dayanidhi Maran and Mrs. Kaviri Kalanidhi Maran.

The function ended with the vote of thanks by Dr. Krishna Das, Chief Medical Officer of Aravind, Madurai.

The new vision centre was inaugurated at Periyanaickenpalayam on August 15 by Dr. Narendran, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind - Coimbatore. It is 27 Kms from Coimbatore.14 Outpatients were registered on inaugural day. Aravind has blended information technology innovatively into the center facilitating online (live) consultation for each patient with the Ophthalmologists at the Aravind - Coimbatore which is a low cost telemedicine approach. This approach is unique helps patients acquire right treatment advice directly from Ophthalmologists which saves lot of time and money to the patients.

A Team from Google foundation, Mr. Larry Brilliant Executive Director, Ms. Kirsten Olsen and Ms. Ki Mun, Project Managers at Google.org, Dr. Frank Rijsberman, Director at Google.org, Ms. Sonal Shah is also with Google.org and is an expert in global poverty and sustainable developments were at Aravind-Madurai on August 10, to learn about Aravind Eye Care system.

Ms. Veni, Administrator, LAICO visited USA from July 15-August 5. The main purpose of this trip was to visit various universities and get exposure in administration with special focus to planning, marketing, organizing, and evaluating the regular executive training programmes and CME programmes offered at Aravind.

Strategic Perspectives in Non Profit Management
Harvard University, Boston, July 15-21
Ms. Veni attended a weeklong course on “Strategic Perspectives in Non profit Management” at Harvard Business School. A total of 140 candidates participated from various non profit sectors. 72% of the participants were from the United States and the rest were from other countries.

Ms. Veni visited Michigan University and Chelsea Hospital in USA from July 22-28. There she had discussions with Mr. Ron Bendersky, Executive Director of Executive Education Programme, and Dr. Van Harrison, Director, Department of Medical Education. She visited Chelsea Hospital and met Ms. Cindy Harrison and other department heads.

In California Ms. Veni visited Stanford University, Berkeley University and Seva office from July 29-August 5. At Berkeley, she visited the Optometry and Health Science Library, Hass Business School at University of Berkeley and the International Housing facilities. She also had the opportunity to visit the Programme office of AAO, Google Campus and Seva Office. At the end of her visit, she went to the Stanford University and met with the Programme team of Student Data Base, the Executive Education Programme team and the Public Management Programme team. Ms. Veni had a brief tour of all the Universities to observe the class room facilities, technology used and its administrative functions and had the opportunity to meet the concerned department seniors and discuss about their concerned activities and challenges related to the education and training activities.

It is with great pleasure we announce that Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Professor of Technology & Technical Education, Anna University, Chennai, formerly the Honourable President of India has consented to be the Visiting Professor and Advisor of Dr. G. Venkataswamy Eye Research Institute from 30th July 2007.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Hospital was invited to participate in the PURA Consultative’s Meeting which was held at Gandhigram Rural University on 27th July 2007. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, formerly President of India, actively participated in this meeting. During the meeting, Chairman expressed his view that one vision center may be considered in Gandhigram as a part of PURA.

Aravind Tele-ophthalmology Network (ATN) Retreat was held at LAICO on July 28 to manage the present challenges and realize the newer opportunities.

Realizing the potential of providing quality tertiary eye care and contributing to continuous education irrespective of challenges like accessibility and availability, Aravind Eye Care System has extended the scope of utility of information technology by setting up Aravind Tele-ophthalmology Network (ATN) in June 2002. Now stepping in its fifth year this network has thus far taken different initiatives

- Benefiting patients be it at the level of primary or tertiary eye care
- Providing impetus to our training programmes
- Enabling to foster closer ties across Aravind Eye Care System

Aravind is also exploring various options to make this technology user-friendly. One of the major milestones will be the day we start our Virtual Academy.

A two day CME on Current Practices in Glaucoma was held at Aravind-Tirunelveli from July 21-22 under the guidance of Dr.R.Ramakrishnan, CMO. The main purpose of this CME was to get familiarized with the changes and to get update. Ophthalmologists representing various States of our country, Postgraduates and Fellows, Trainees from Aravind Eye Hospital attended the CME. Experts who are richly experienced in practical management of Glaucoma were invited as Faculty members to discuss the recent advances and developments at a great length.

The inaugural function commenced with prayer song. Dr. G.R. Reddy lighted the kuthuvillaku. Dr.Vinay Nangia, Dr.Velayutham, and Dr.Devendra Sood participated in the function.

The Aravind Eye Care System has started the Third Managed Care Eye Hospital “Sudarshan Netralaya” in Association with Nagardas Dhanji Shanghvi Trust at Amreli, Gujarat. The eye hospital has 30 beds and will catering to the Eye Care needs of Amreli and the neighboring districts.

The Hospital was inaugurated on July 20, 2007 by Swami Shri Sachchidanandji, Shri Dilip Shantilal Shanghvi, Managing Director of Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and Padmashree Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman of Aravind Eye Care System.

Dr. P.Namperumalsamy participated in the inauguration of Silver Jubilee of “Indian Intraocular Implant & Refractive Surgery Convention" at Chennai. He was felicitated by the Society for the Award of Padmashree conferred on him by the President of India.

He chaired the session on “Raising the bar in cataract and refractive surgery”.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy attended the 3rd Pacific Health Summit was invited by the National Bureau of Asia Research (NBR).

The main purpose of this meeting was to create a link between the health care providers and the service organizations and to provide a platform for brainstorming policies, medical practices, research and public health in the various developing countries. This is also aimed at finding realistic policy solutions that will impact on how diseases are detected and treated worldwide.

This meeting was attended by leading industrialists, technologists, heads of health departments in various countries, WHO, Senators, CEO of Universities like Duke University and Washington University, representatives from Global Health care, General Electrical health care, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation etc. The objective of the meeting was promoting health services in the developing world.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy met Dr. Dunbar Hopkins, Executive Vice President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and discussed with him the possibilities of working together of American Academy and Aravind Virtual Academy by utilizing the teaching and training materials, digital library developed by AAO for the benefit of the residents and the faculty in India. He participated in the Seva Staff Meeting which was arranged to felicitate Dr. PN for his Padmashree Award.

He visited the University of Iowa on June 19, 20 for a meeting with Drs. Wallace Alward, John Fingert, Edwin Stone, Val Sheffield to discuss about the ongoing research projects with the research team in genetics of albinism and glaucoma and the forthcoming research projects in diabetic retinopathy and other developments.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy also had interactions with the leaders of research and development at Alcon at its headquarters in Dallas, Texas on June 21.

He also met Dr. Lloyd Paul Aiello of Joslin Diabetic Center, Boston, Dr. Bradford Shingleton of Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston and Dr. Joan Miller, the Chairman of Mass Eye and Ear infirmary and discussed with them about future collaborations.

A New Vision Centre was inaugurated at Marakkanam on July 14. Dr. A. Dharamarajan, Joint Director of Health Services, Villupuram inaugurated the centre. Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Venkatesh, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Thiruvenkatakrishnan, Senior Medical Officer, received the guests and showed them the facilities provided in the centre. Kuthuvilakku was lit by Sponsors, BSNL officials and paramedical staff. Cross section of people from BSNL, Bank, Police Department, Schools & Government Departments participated in the function. It is important to note that first Broad Band Connection to Marakkanam was extended by BSNL officials at our request, which helped us to inaugurate the centre. It is a record that on the first day itself the vision centre’s Out Patient Department registered 82 patients, out of whom 20 were prescribed glasses.

Rameshwaram Vision Centre was inaugurated on July 11, 2007 by Haji. A. P. J. M. Maraickayer in the presence of Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, AECS, Mr. G. Srinivasan, President, Govel Trust and Dr. Krishnadas, CMO, AEH-Madurai. Rameshwaram which is 180 Km away from Madurai and its surroundings do not have any eye care facility. The population of 1, 50,000 have to travel about 60km to Ramanathapuram for all their eye care needs. This is a first Vision Centre of Aravind in an Island. This Vision Centre project is supported by “National Program for Control of Blindness”, Govt of India.

The first Memorial Day of Dr. V was observed on 07-07-07 in Aravind - Madurai and all other centres of Aravind.

A number of meetings were held in the evening to celebrate the memory of the father of Aravind Eye Care System in which the chairman Dr.P.N and other senior leaders and staff paid tributes to the greate soul. They reminisced their association with the Chief and pledged to carry forward his mission.

Dr. K. Naresh Babu, Aravind-Madurai, Mr. V. Vijayakumar, Diabetic Retinopathy and Mr. S.P. Venkatesh, Faculty from LAICO visited International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) with generous support from the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, The “Peking University Eli Lilly Diabetic Eye Disease Center” was established on March 20, 2007 at PUEC, Beijing, China to decrease avoidable visual impairment and blindness due to diabetes. Recognizing the challenge of diabetic eye disease, multiyear consultation with Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology (LAICO) was planned.

The purpose of the consultancy visit was to provide consultation to achieve the specific goals for which ELDEDC is being set up in order to promote Diabetic Retinopathy services in China.

Objectives of the visit:

• Help in the development of a detailed strategic plan for setting up of effective diabetic retinopathy services
• Assist in designing academic training for DR
• Develop performance metrics and a system to facilitate easy monitoring of the program
• Provide technical inputs on a continuous basis against requests from PUEC.

The team made a Needs Assessment Visit to PUEC-ELDEDC on June 20-21, to understand the working systems and procedures at ELDEDC both in clinical and management areas and to understand and analyze the existing resources available at ELDEDC.

Based on the observations during the needs assessment visit, the team made some recommendations to the PUEC-ELDEDC team.

After the initial assessment, the team organized the internal strategic planning meeting with the ELDEDC team (Retina specialists and paramedical staff) on June 25-26. The PUEC-ELDECD team prepared the strategies and action plan to achieve their project objectives.

In recognition of its contribution towards the alleviation of visual problems, Aravind Eye Care System has been awarded the Antonio Champalimaud Vision Award which carries a cash of 1 million Euros. It has been awarded for the first time this year, by the Champalimaud Foundation, a Portuguese organization.
About the Award:
The Champalimaud Foundation has instituted an annual award of 1 million Euros. This will be awarded for outstanding contributions by way of eye care services and research in vision and associated areas. The Vision Award will have a strong bias towards work that had a major impact in the delivery of eye care services or in the case of research that provided major breakthroughs in the understanding of vision resulting in the alleviation of visual impairment and blindness. The award has the support of Vision 2020 – The Right to Sight, a global initiative for the prevention of blindness. The first award, to be given in 2007, is for contributions to the alleviation of visual problems, primarily in developing countries.
The award was formally announced on June 30th through a video broadcast on YouTube. The award will be presented at a ceremony on September 7th in Lisbon, Portugal.

Mr. R.D.Thulasiraj, and Dr. S. Aravind were at Indian Institute of Management to take a session on AECS’s Management Consultation on Health Care in India on June 26-28.

Dr Kalpana Narendran, Senior Medical Officer, Aravind-Coimbatore, Ms. Sasipriya KM, Faculty and Mr. Venkatesh SP, Faculty made a Needs Assessment visit to SNC, Chitrakoot as part of Aravind ORBIS POLTC Project II. The key objective of this visit was to assess the current set up, resources, facilities etc. That would enable SNC run quality training programmes developing Paediatric ophthalmology team (excluding long term fellowship for doctors) thus become a regional POLTC with the support of ORBIS International. Aravind along with ORBIS India would provide adequate support based on the recommendations given by the visiting team.

Inauguration of new vision centre at Thirukkanur was took place on June 18. The function was facilitated by Mr. Marshal Antony, General Manager, BSNL and Mr. T.S.A. Kannan, Lions club President. The Programme started with welcome address by Mr. Palaniraj. The inaugural speech was given by Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chief Medical Officer of Aravind-Puducherry. On the first day of vision centre 64 out patients were registered, 23 were advised for glasses, 19 were delivered spectacles and 10 were referred to the base hospital for speciality services. Aravind-Puducherry is planning for the second vision centre at Marakkanam to be inaugurated in the first week of July.

June 4, 2007 will remain as a red letter day in the event-calendar of Aravind’s Ocular Prosthetic Centre. It was on that day the centre delivered its 1000th prosthetic eye to a patient whose natural eye had to be substituted.

The Ocular Prosthetic Centre was started in September 2004. Since then it is fabricating customized synthetic eyes to suit the need of individual patients. These eyes more or less restore the original shape of a patient’s face whose eyes got damaged in accident or enucleated due to incurable eye disease, like retinoblastoma. On June 4, 2007 the clinic delivered its 1000th prosthetic eye.

Alimera Sciences, CTMS and Harrison Clinical Research are jointly sponsoring a trial of an innovative treatment option for patients with Diabetic Macular Edema. For this purpose they have decided to enroll a total number of 900 patients in various parts of the globe. 65% enrollment has been completed so far. The purpose of the study is to increase the quality of life for people with Diabetic Macular Edema.

A large number of ophthalmologists practicing at various places across the world have been enlisted for enrolling patients who give consent to subject themselves to the new treatment trial. It was targeted to enroll 200 patients in India by April, 2007. However 130 randomized patients have been enrolled during this period and the enrollment continues.

“Alimera sciences Global Newsletter” has mentioned the names of Dr. Narendran, Aravind-Coimbatore, Dr. Ravindran, Aravind-Puducherry and Dr. Ramakrishnan, Aravind-Tirunelveli in the enrollment performance column. Out of the 7 doctors who have enrolled the 130 patients for the study in India, the share of the Aravind doctors stands at 59. The break up Dr. Narendran-28, Dr. Ravindran- 27, Dr. Ramakrishnan-4.
congratulations to our doctors for their contribution to the enrollment drive

Compassionate world-class eye care at an affordable cost, has come to serve Kolkata and other areas in the eastern part of the country with the formal inauguration of Priyamvada Birla Aravind Eye Hospital in its own new 5 storeyed facility by Shri Somnath Chatterjee, Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, in Kolkata. While opening the Hospital, the M P Birla Group’s latest contribution to the city’s healthcare facilities, Shri Chatterjee described it as a “wonderful gift” to the city of Kolkata and “great acquisition” for the city. Appreciating the commitment of the M P Birla Group towards serving society he said the inspirations and efforts behind setting up the Hospital were to be cherished.

Initially the hospital with the nomenclature of M.P. Birla Eye Hospital was started in December, 2001 with the clinical and administrative support of Aravind. In 2006, the hospital was moved to its own new 5 storeyed building with the name of Priyamvada Birla Aravind Eye Hospital.

Shri Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, Mayor of Kolkata, said the hospital had come in keeping with Kolkata’s pace of progress. Appreciating the philanthropic activities of the Group, he said it’s Chairman, Shri Rajendra S Lodha, had been working in realizing the dreams of Smt Priyamvada Birla. With the setting up of Priyamvada Birla Aravind Eye Hospital, it would no longer be necessary to go to the South for eye treatment.

Shri Rajendra S Lodha, Chairman, M P Birla Group, said the Hospital, established in collaboration with Aravind Eye Hospital and Post-Graduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai, was a major step in realizing the dream of Smt Priyamvada Birla to have a world-class institution of ophthalmology in Kolkata. He emphasized that more than 60% of eye surgeries would be almost free of cost at the Hospital. “Our aim is to eradicate needless blindness in this part of the country on the strength of well-trained and highly-motivated staff, doctors, optometrists, nurses and others. In this Hospital, we plan to treat 250,000 patients annually and perform 20,000 surgeries a year, including 100 corneal transplants”, he added.

Dr P Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System and President Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Dr. G. Natchiar, Director (HRD), Aravind Eye Care System and Dr. S.Aravind, Administrator, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai and other eminent personalities were present during the function.

Dr P Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System said Aravind’s “relationship with the M P Birla Group is just a beginning and together we will strive in eradicating needless blindness in this part of the country. He said that in association with ISRO “we have V-Sat Tele-Medicine Connectivity with all our hospitals, which is also linked with universities like Wilmer Johns Hopkins. Through this facility, all the patients can receive the expertise of specialists. The Priyamvada Birla Aravind Eye Hospital will have all expertise, including well-qualified medical and paramedical staff, equipment and other facilities to address the sight-threatening eye diseases. This joint endeavor serves all the needy people”. He announced that the Union Ministry of Human Resource has been approached for permission to set up Aravind University for Ophthalmic Sciences.

At a press meet, Dr P Namperumalsamy, Dr. G. Natchiar , Doctors and Senior Executives of Priyamvada Birla Aravind Eye Hospital told that this Hospital is equipped to perform the much talked about corneal surgeries like Limbal Stem Cell Transplant (Direct) and Deep Stromal Anterior Keratoplasty, where different components of a single cornea is used successfully in multiple patients. The Hospital has a functional Eye Donation Centre to spread awareness and will soon start the Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP).The 40,000-sq. ft Hospital, with modern infrastructure, will provide emergency services, supported by super-speciality eye clinics and seven state-of-the-art operation theatres. The services offered include comprehensive eye check-up, orbit oculoplasty, glaucoma, cataract & IOL, uvea, retina and vitreous, paediatric ophthalmology & strabismus and day-care facility.

Priyamvada Birla Aravind Eye Hospital will introduce outreach services, including free screening camps in schools and rural areas, as well as senior citizens’ awareness meetings and teachers training programmes. It has joined hands with the Vision 2020-The Right to Sight movement to eliminate blindness by 2020, launched by WHO and a task force of international NGOs.

Kallidaikurichi Vision Center was inaugurated on May 16, 2007 by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirunelveli. It is 30 Kms away from Tirunelveli. 73 patients were registered on the inaugural day at Out patients department, which was the highest ever among all the vision centers on the inaugural day.

Srivaikuntam Vision Centre was inaugurated on May 18, 2007 by Dr. R. Ramakrisnan, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirunelveli. It is 28 Kms from Tirunelveli. 50 Outpatients were registered on the first day.
Aravind has blended information technology innovatively into these two centers facilitating online (live) consultation for each patient with the ophthalmologists at the Aravind-Tirunelveli which is a low cost telemedicine approach. This approach which is unique helps patients acquire right treatment advice directly from ophthalmologists which saves lot of time and money to the patients. These centers charge a nominal charge of Rs.20 /- for outpatient visits. The services include Comprehensive Eye screening, refraction, first aid, active referral, school screening and creating awareness and eye health education and prescription and dispensing of spectacles for the refractive error patients at the centre on the same day. Other services like testing for diabetes, etc. are also provided. In addition to the above said services, irreversible blind persons are identified by the field workers and rehabilitated through appropriate training on life skills.

From the Aravind optical shops at Madurai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore and Puducherry five of our staff led by Er.G.Srinivasan, Dr.Kalpana from Aravind-Coimbatore, Mrs.R.Saradha Devi Aravind-Tirunelveli, Sr.Sivasankari, and Sr.Prema from Lakshmi opticals from Aravind-Madurai attended the convention on May 13-17 A total of 700 delegates from Asian Countries, 110 people from Australia Countries, and 66 from India participated in the Convention. It was a good experience for the staff of optical Section. Management Courses, Customer Satisfaction Course, New Developments in Ophthalmic Lens Field Course were held in the Convention. They learnt a lot about modern trend of optical business and also the new types of lens which are going to be introduce a in the market.

We are happy to inform you that free section of Aravind-Madurai received and treated a highest number of 759 outpatients on May 7, 2007. It included 504 new and 255 review patients. Inpatient number on that day was 241(cataract 233, others 18).

Two new Vision Centers were inaugurated on April 26. The Vision Center at Alanganallur (23 Kms from Madurai) was inaugurated by Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director-Aravind Eye Hospital. And the other at Tirupuvanam (19 Kms from Madurai) was inaugurated by Mr. R.D. Thulasiraj, Executive Director-LAICO.

Aravind has blended information technology innovatively into these centers facilitating online (live) consultation for each patient with the ophthalmologists at the Aravind-Madurai which is a low cost telemedicine approach. This approach which is unique helps patients acquire right treatment advice directly from ophthalmologists which saves lot of time and money to the patients. These centers charge a nominal cost of Rs.10 /- for outpatient visits. The services include Comprehensive Eye screening, refraction, first aid, active referral, school screening and creating awareness and eye health education and promotion and dispensing of spectacles for the refractive error patients at the centre on the same day. Other services like testing for diabetes, etc. are also provided. This facilitates counselling these patients on the significance of diabetes and its direct implication to eyes in the form of blinding but preventable eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy. Outreach screening camps for specialty eye problems like diabetic retinopathy will be conducted twice a year at each vision centre. In addition to the above said services, irreversible blind persons are identified by the field workers and rehabilitated through appropriate training on life skills. Each centre is run by a well trained ophthalmic technician, a Counsellor / and 2 Eye Health workers.

Three articles on ocular involvement in Chickungunya infection written by doctors of Aravind Eye Hospital have been accepted for publication by prestigious journals. Of the three articles, two are written by Tirunelveli doctors and one is by Madurai doctors.

The fact that Eye is affected by Chickungunya virus has been proved by Serological test through the Virology Institute at Pune.


The titles and authors of the articles from Tirunelveli are given below:

1. Optic Neuritis related with Chikungunya Virus infection epidemic in South India by Apoorva Mittal, Saurabh Mittal, Jayahar Bharati, Rengappa Ramakrishnan,S. Saravanan, Padmakar S Sathe. This article has been accepted by the Ophthalmology (blue journal). article has been accepted by the Ophthalmology (blue journal).
2. Uveitis associated with epidemic outbreak of Chikungunya virus fever by Apoorva Mittal, Saurabh Mittal, Jayahar Bharati, R. Ramakrishnan, Padmakar S Sathe. This article has been accepted by the Archives of Ophthalmology.

The title and authors of article from Madurai is given below:

1. Ocular Involvement Associated with an Epidemic Outbreak of Chikungunya Infection by Prajna Lalitha, Sivakumar Rathinam, Krishnadas Banushree, Shanmugam Maheshkumar, Rajendran Vijayakumar, Padmakar Sathe. This article has been accepted by American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Infomedia India, Modern Medicare and GE Healthcare in association with Association of Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCHAM) have recognized the contribution of Aravind to society by presenting their Modern Medicare Excellence inaugural award under the special Jury award category for Institutions.

Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Madurai received the award on behalf of the Chairman Dr. P. Namperumalsamy. The award was presented in a glittering ceremony in Bangalore and was attended by about 200 leaders of the Indian health industry, many of whom were also contenders for the several category of awards announced for the year 2006 by Info media and GE Healthcare. It is noteworthy that Modern Medicare, the No.1 magazine in the world of healthcare and technology acknowledges the phenomental work and contribution of the individuals/institutions involved in superior healthcare delivery services, through the MODERN MEDICARE EXCELLENCE AWARDS-2006. The Awards is an initiative by the publication to commemorate extraordinary work across the various quarters of the healthcare industry. While it celebrates superior healthcare, it also aims to reach out to the core of the healthcare delivery system and thereby, motivate the medical fraternity to continue to perform for excellence.

Many top institutions in the country were contenders for this recognition. It speaks highly of Aravind’s contribution to the cause of combating needless blindness in the society which has undoubtedly brought this coveted recognition.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System receives Padma Sri Award from President Dr. Abdul Kalam at a glittering function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23rd March, 2007.

A total of 14 Participants from California, Canada, Tanzania, Nepal, USA, UK, and India participated in the workshop. The workshop was held in recognition of the vital role of knowledge-seeking and sharing in strengthening sustainable eye care services. Research literature, case studies, training curricula, and management tool were developed.
Outcome:
To disseminate the eye care information through open access source
To promote other eye care centers and eye care personnel
To frame common web based plat Form to access globally
To standardize the Resource center more user friendly coordinating with other RC
To promote Resource Centre services for the aim of eliminating needless blindness

Management Training for Eye Care Programme Managers Course was conducted from February 19 - March 2. A total of 32 participants from 18 countries such as USA, UK, Cameroon, Uganda, Ethiopia, Swaziland, Ghana, Ireland, Bolivia, Tanzania, South Africa, Cambodia, China, Pakistan, Nepal, Mexico and Vietnam, participated in the course. This training was designed for professionals concerned with eye care Programme development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and funding. The main objectives of this training Programme was to enable the participants to acquire knowledge, skills and attitude to become effective in the eye care programme management.

The aim of the course was to help the candidates to :

• Learn to assess the magnitude of the problem and its implications
• Understand the gaps in service levels and issues relating to requirement and actual availability of resources
• Understand factors and challenges specific to eye care in Programme development
• Internalize the core concepts and strategies in the design and delivery of eye care services.
• Gain knowledge and skills in planning and prioritizing the eye care programmes and services including evidence based decision making
• Develop an understanding of various monitoring and evaluation methods/processes
• Gain knowledge and skills in grant monitoring and financial management
• Learn about managing change and solving problems
• Appreciate the role of networking and alliances for a greater impact

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System has been conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award by All India Ophthalmological Society , in its 65 Conference held in Hyderabad this year. The Award will be presented at AIOS Conference to be held at Bangalore in 2008.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman of Aravind Eye Care System has been conferred with Padmashree Award for the year 2006.

The news of the New Year was announced on the occasion of India’s 57th Republic Day. As a recognition of Dr. P.N‘s illustrations contributions to the cause of illuminating the darkened lives of the millions suffering from visionlessness, he has been honored with this Award which will be presented by the President of India at a special function to be held later.

Dr. G. Venkataswamy was conferred the (L-Ramp) Award for his Innovation, a joint initiative by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) and Rural Innovations Network (RIN, Chennai), commenced in August 2004 with financial support from the Lemelson Foundation, USA). Dr.R.D.Ravindran received the L-Ramp Award on behalf of the Chief.

The objectives of this Programme are to, identify and nurture grassroots innovators and innovations that would help people in fulfilling their basic needs in an effective manner and there by, enhance people’s capacity in improving and sustaining their living conditions. As a team, IITM and RIN, with their expertise in technical and business domains respectively, hope that this “experimental project” in Tamil Nadu will become a worthwhile model to emulate in other regions of India and South Asia. More specifically, L-RAMP for Innovations, together with its partners, aim to provide technical and business mentoring and financial support to potential innovator and entrepreneurs, through the following stages

• Conceptualize ideas that address basic human needs and social development,
• Translate such concepts into technical designs,
• Develop and build prototypes,
• Test such prototypes, and
• Prepare business plans and establish viable enterprises producing such innovative products.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam lays the foundation stone of Dr. G. Venkataswamy Eye Research Institute at Madurai. The function was held at the site of the planned new building of the Institute near the Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology, opposite to Aravind Eye Hospital.

Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, Dr. Lloyd Paul Aiello, Director, Beetham Eye Institute, Joslin Diabetes Centre, Boston, USA, Mr. Dilip Sanghvi, Managing Director, Sun Pharmaceuticals Mumbai was the dignitaries participated and addressed the function. Dr. V. R. Muthukkaruppan, Director-Research, Aravind Medical Research Foundation delivered the welcome address. Mr. G. Srinivasan, Secretary, AMRF honored the President of India. Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, President AMRF, submitted the Project Report. Mr. R. D. Thulasiraj, Executive Director, LAICO proposed the vote of thanks.
Click here to view Dr. A.P.J. Abdul kalam's Speech

Lasik-Zyoptix Centre for correction of refractive errors was inaugurated on December 15 by Dr. Subba Rao, Director – JIPMER in the presence of Dr. Dilip Kumar Baliga, Director of Medical Services, Government of Pondicherry, Mr. G. Srinivasan, President, Govel Trust, Madurai and Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director, Aravind Eye Hospital.

“Zyoptix, the state-of-the-art in LASIK technology is designed specifically to treat each individual’s vision error in a customized manner. It has many advanced built-in safety features that help to optimize the success of the laser treatment. Zyoptix, like standard laser treatment, is fast and virtually painless”.

In the inauguration ceremony Dr. Subba Roa cut the ribbon declaring the inauguration of the centre and also lit the Kuthu Vilaku. In the meeting after the inauguration Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Joint Director & Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Pondicherry welcomed the gathering by explaining the functioning of Aravind-Pondicherry and the necessity for opening the Lasik – Zyoptix Centre. Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director, Aravind-Madurai who has been performing Lasik procedures at Madurai Hospital for the last 8 years (performed more than 10,000 procedures) explained to the audience the genesis of refractive surgery through PowerPoint presentation and the importance and procedure of Lasik. Mr. G. Srinivasan, President, GOVEL Trust which runs the Aravind Eye Hospitals deliberated about the origin of Aravind Eye Hospital and how the Hospitals have grown up to the present level under the leadership of founder Dr. G. Venkataswamy and the services rendered by the hospital to the poor section of the society with the assistance of Lions, Rotary and other organizations. Dr. Dilip Kumar Baliga, Director of Medical Services, Government of Pondicherry, in his address highlighted how NGOs like Aravind Eye Hospital extend treatment to the people at an affordable cost. He also appreciated the services rendered by the Aravind Eye Hospital to the Pondicherry area.

Dr. Subba Rao, Director in his inaugural address dealt with in detail the various services rendered by Aravind Eye Hospitals and the Lasik Centre opened at Pondicherry will benefit the people in Pondy & surrounding areas as they need not travel a long distance to avail this facility. He also wished the Hospital for many more such achievements. The function ended by Vote of Thanks extended by Dr. R. Venkatesh, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry. The meeting was well attended by more than 250 people from Lions / Rotary, other Government functionaries, Indian medical association, Pondicherry Ophthalmic Association.

Aravind Eye Hospital inaugurated its new branch at Tirupur on December 6.This is Aravind’s first Day Care Hospital. Dr. G. Natchiar Vice Chairman of Aravind Eye Care System inaugurated the New Hospital. Mr. G. Srinivasan, Director-finance, Dr. Aravind and well-wishers from in around Tirupur participated in the inauguration function. On the first day 49 patients visited the Hospital.

Aravind Eye Hospital inaugurated its new community Eye clinic at Tuticorin on November 27. Collector of Tuticorin lighted Koothuvilakku and opened the centre. Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirunelveli welcomed the gatherings. Dr. G. Natchiar, Vice Chairman Spoke about Aravind Founder Dr. G. Venkataswamy’s long cherished wish of opening this new branch and his dreams have been fulfilled on this auspicious day. She informed than a Vision Centre will soon be opened at Srivaikuntam and Cheranmadevi. Dr.P.Namperumalsamy, Chairman of Aravind Eye Hospital, Dr.M.Srinivasan and G.Srinivasan from AECS, Prominent medical professionalists, VIPs, industrialists from Tuticorin also participated in the function. Mr.S.T.Jayabalan, Manager Administration proposed vote of thanks.

A two day Symposium on Uvea was held at LAICO auditorium on 2nd and 3rd December, 2006.The Uvea specialists and Fellows, ophthalmic general practitioners, ophthalmic residents were participated in the programme.

The World Diabetes Day was celebrated at the Aravind Eye Hospital-CBE under the aegis of WDF Aravind Diabetic Retinopathy Project and Lions Club of Pollachi. The following Programmes were conducted in connection with Day.

Diabetes Exhibition was arranged to create awareness on Diabetics. Diabetic Retinopathy Programme was conducted at Aravind – Coimbatore from 13-18 November. 868 people visited the exhibition, free blood sugar checkup was done for every one above the age of 40 years. Diabetes was detected in 186 people. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed diabetic retinopathy in 50 patients. Counselling on diabetic diet was done by a dietician who had good spread of the different varieties of food that were classified by its nutritive and caloric values. The necessity for regular ophthalmic evaluation for diabetic patients was stressed and free retinopathy screening was also done.

Mega Diabetes Detection Camp was conducted at Pollachi, free diabetes detection was done for 4640 people, and 10 blood sugar check up counters were arranged for a radius of 10kms. 1790 were detected with diabetes.

Human Chain Formation was arranged to create awareness on diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. The human chain formed for a distance of 10kms. 10,000 students from 12 schools, colleges and members of voluntary organizations like Lions Club, Rotary Club, Nehru yuva Kendra, LIC employees, art of living followers participated in the human chain. The Chief Guest for the Programme was Dr. Vijay Pingle, Sub Collector of Pollachi who inspected the 10kms of human chain formation from an open jeep. He was accompanied on the jeep by the Lions District Vice – Governor, WDF Aravind Diabetic Retinopathy Project Medical officer and the Lions Club office bearers.

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Camp was arranged, at Pollachi in the Natchimuthu Gounder Polytechnic College Auditorium. At the screening camp 220 persons were examined including 180 diabetic patients. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed 21 patients to have Diabetic Retinopathy.

Dr. V. Narendran, CMO, Aravind Eye Hospital – Coimbatore and Mr. S.P.Venkatesh, Faculty Associate – LAICO visited Comtrust Eye Hospital, Calicut. This Needs Assessment visit was a part of the Lions manpower management for Sight First supported Comtrust Eye Hospital. The purpose of the visit was to assess and review their current systems and procedures to help lay down the future direction.

Comtrust Eye Hospital belongs to an old and well known charitable Trust of Calicut, in the name of Comtrust Charitable Trust. This Trust was promoted by the age old company, Common Wealth Trust India Ltd., founded by Basel Mission (German Missionaries) which has a history of service in Calicut for over 150 years.

OPTIC- 2006 was conducted at Tirunelveli on November 5. The meeting began in memory of our Chief late Dr.G.Venkataswamy. Ms. Lakshmi, Manager - HRD welcomed the gathering. Mr. Ganesan, Office Administrator – DCW Ltd participated the Chief Guest and spoke about Self Motivation and Customer Satisfaction. Dr. Aravind, Administrator gave a special address and talked about the future expansion plans Aravind Eye Hospital. Essilor at Tirunelveli and Staff members representing the five branches of Optical Shop took part in the meeting. Mr. Murugesh presented the performance report of the five opticals for the year 2004 and 2005 and also compared with each one. Each Optical shop presented on different topics in the Programme. Ms. Kannamma proposed vote of thanks.

The Aravind team consisting of three members Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, CMO, AEH-Madurai, Mr. Sanil Joseph, Faculty-LAICO and Mr. Prasanth M., Assistant Administrator, AEH-Tirunelveli visited Kerala Institute of Medical Science to the Eye department. The purpose of the consultancy visit is to enhance the performance of the eye department in the line of Aravind and to separate it physically under the KIMS Charitable Trust. As the next step, key staff members from the institution will be participating in the one week Vision Building Workshop that is proposed to be held from 4th to 9th December, 2006 at LAICO.

Mr. Rajan - EDP Department and Mr. Pranesh – Telemedicine Visited Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) to attend the summit on Wireless Network Workshop and Training.

This was the first time World Wide Wireless Network Summit. They reached Dharamsala on 22nd October. More than 125 delegates participated in the workshop. The first day Programme was Field Trip. They started their track from TCV (Tibetien’s Children School). They reached the hill with in an hour. They traveled to different place and they looked different wireless antenna in the hill area. Finally they went to his holiness Dalailama place and they saw the temple.

Second day Programme was the summit on Wireless Network. The Summit organized at Tibetian’ Children school’s Auditorium. The presentations and the panel discussions were conducted in the summit. Dr. Eric Brewer of Berkeley University presented Aravind Eye Hospital Vision Centre- Theni in the name of wireless network at Aravind Eye Hospital vision centre.

After the completion of the summit, the workshop started. Workshop focused on theory and practical. They took different network classes i.e., point to point, point to Multipoint and Multipoint to Multipoint. The four day workshop ended with mesh network practical lab, they reached Madurai on 2nd November.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy has been conferred the Achievement Award by the Board of Trustees of American Academy of Ophthalmology for many years of distinguished service in the programs of this society 2006.

A two day Symposium on Cornea and Refractory Surgery and Ocular Surface Disorders was held at LAICO auditorium on 14th and 15th October, 2006. Dr. V. Sangwan of LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Dr. Rajesh Fogla of Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad participated as Guest Faculty in the CME programme. Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director, Aravind Eye Hospital took part as Host Faculty in the programme. Diabetic Lectures, Video assisted Teaching and Panel Discussions formed part of the CME Programme.
The Cornea specialists and Fellows, ophthalmic general practitioners, ophthalmic residents were participated in the programme.
Corneal Blindness affects approximately 1.3 million people in India. The tragedy of the situation is that it affects mainly children and young adults who have their lifetime ahead of them. Blindness due to infectious Keratitis and Vitamin A deficiency is avoidable. Cornel blindness is one of the agenda in VISION 2020 programme. World Health organization has also given priority to preventable Blindness. There was a comprehensive yet concise curriculum emphasizing standard teaching and concepts as well as a focus on recent advances in the field of Cornea, Refractive Surgery and Ocular Surface Disorders.

As part of Capacity Building support to SEVA-Tibet and Kham Eye Centre in Dartsedo, Eastern Tibet, China. Mr. Keerti Bhusan Pradhan, Senior Faculty LAICO visited Dartsedo prefecture Hospital and the regional health centers in Eastern part of Kham from 4 - 12 of October to advice on the Eye care plan to both SEVA Foundation and Government of Tibet. He traveled 1400 Kilometers from Kham Region to the local health centers, communities, and people to get an overview. He also participated in the formulation of plan for the development of Kham Eye Centre and also in the MoU signing ceremony between the Government officials and SEVA.

In partnership with the world’s leading Eye Care Company Alcon Inc., Aravind has established the Aravind Alcon Centre of Excellence for Cataract Services at Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai. Mr. Bill Barton, Vice Chairman of Alcon Laboratories inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Cataract Services and he described about the partnership as an opportunity to work in the area of eye care in India. Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman of Aravind Eye Care system, told about the objective of creating a centre of excellence was to train ophthalmologists and have the best research facilities in comprehensive eye care. The hospital was already using state-of-the-art technology for cataract removal by deploying the equipment manufactured by Alcon that had presence across the globe. The leading global manufacturer of ophthalmic products was also supplying the newer variety of intra-ocular lenses to the Aravind Eye Hospital.
According to Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Chief of Cataract Services at the Aravind Eye Hospital, the Aravind-Alcon Centre will be involved in various research activities relating to cataract and Alcon would provide the latest equipment in clinical care. And specialized training will be provided to all of their eye care personnel. The Aravind – Alcon partnership will also work on various research activities to cataract and IOLs.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India, paid a visit to the residence of chairman Dr. P. Namperumalsamy and Vice chairman Dr. G. Natchiar on 23rd September 2006 to personally condole the demise of Aravind Founder Dr. G. Venkataswamy.

He spent some time with the members of Aravind family and shared with them his memories of Dr. V.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy has been honoured as “Teacher par Excellence” by the Retina Institute of Karnataka during its 10th anniversary celebrations on 11th August. As a part of saluting the great teacher Dr. George Hilton the Institute Honoured Dr.P.Namperumalsamy as a Senior Teacher in the field of Ophthalmology at the Guruvananda Program.

Project management Training for Eye Care is a new course which was added to the management courses stream and ORBIS India is supporting their partner hospitals to attend this management training course. The main objective of organising this course is to enable the participants to acquire knowledge, skills and develop attitude to manage eye care projects effectively. This Training programme is a 4 weeks course scheduled between 4th – 30th September 2006.

Sixteen participants have joined this programme among them one is from Bhutan, 10 is from different parts of India & five of them are from Aravind Eye Care Systems’
The aim of the course is to help the candidates:

• Learn the basics of eye care
• Understand the core concepts in the design and delivery of eye care services
• Various managerial skills needed for them to manage the project
• Understanding the importance of project
• Knowing the framework of project proposal
• Internalizing, communicating the project to key stake holders
• Planning the activities for the project to implement
• Resource (man, material & money) planning / preparation
• Project Documentation & Report preparation
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Project Closure

Dr GN Rao, Mr.R.D.Thulasiraj, Dr.GV Rao and Mr. PKM.Swamy met Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Govt. of India, New Delhi today in New Delhi, to share our work under Public Private Partnership in VISION 2020: The Right to Sight movement with him and his team. A presentation of the next XI plan (2007-2012) was received commendably, and the team was assured of being facilitated by NPCB of MOHFW and the Government’s continued support through implementing the ensuing five year plan.

Continuing Medical Education (CME) on Ocular Microbiology was held at the Auditorium of Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology (LAICO) on the 5th August, 2006. This CME was jointly organized by the Institute of Microbiology, Madurai Medical College and Department of Microbiology, Aravind Eye Hospital.

The aim of this programme was to create awareness among microbiologist and ophthalmologist about the common organisms causing eye infections, source of these organisms and latest diagnostic and identification methods for various infections of the eye. All these would help the patients immensely in receiving early and correct treatment.

Eminent microbiologists and ophthalmologists from all leading eye institutes in the country addressed the audience comprising of microbiologists and ophthalmologists.

Dr. H.N. Madhavan, Director of research, Sankara Nethralaya, Dr. Savitri Sharma from Bhubaneswar Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar, Dr. Philip Thomas from Joseph Eye Hospital, Trichy and Dr. M. Srinivasan, Dr. Rathinam Sivakumar and Dr. Lalitha Prajna from Aravind Eye Hospital were the faculty members for the CME programme.

Infections of the eye are among the leading causes of blindness especially in developing countries like India. Infections like corneal ulcers cause prolonged morbidity, loss of vision and many a times loss of eye. It has tremendous socio economic implication as sufferers are the bread winners of the family.

Eye can be infected by various pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses leading to such infections of the eye like keratitis, endophthalmitis, retinitis etc. The various organisms responsible for these infections have to be correctly diagnosed by the microbiologist in order for the ophthalmologist to start appropriate and timely treatment.

The first citizen of India Dr. Abdul Kalam joined the citizens of Madurai to honour and pay homage to the late Dr. G. Venkataswamy, Founder Chairman of Aravind Eye Care System. In his address given from Rashtrapathi Bhavan and telecasted in the public prayer meeting held at Madurai on the 23rd of July 2006, the President said that Dr. V has fulfilled God’s mission for a man.

It was a solemn commemoration function held at the auditorium of Raja Muthiah Mandram which was full with people belonging to various sections of the city. Luminaries of different spheres of social activities who had come to address the meeting were seated on the front rows.
The subdued strains of instrumental music added to the sublimity of the occasion.
At the background of the lofty dais, the portrait of a smiling Dr. V was placed at the centre with two tall Kuthuvilakkus in front. The scene kindled a feeling that the spiritual flame of the great illuminator had permeated all over the auditorium. The meeting commenced with a prayer song by Mr. Sanil Joseph and his troupe. Mr. Ramesh Raja of All India Radio compered the programme.

The President in his speech that came from the depth of his heart said, “Whenever I visited Madurai, for me, it was a pilgrimage to visit the Aravind Eye Hospital and meet the great soul, Dr. G. Venkataswamy, who gave light for more than 100,000 patients. But today Dr. Venkataswamy is not with us. But his vision and how he has transformed many hospitals, many ophthalmologists and many managers is visible to all of us. He has left an imprint in the minds of all members of eye care community who came in contact with him.”

The president referred to a remark made by a friend who had undergone eye surgery at Aravind. “When I got the sight the first person I saw was Dr. Venkataswamy. I am grateful to God that not only I got the sight but he gave me an opportunity to meet a great soul.”- the friend had told Dr. Abdul Kalam.

Towards the end of his address the President said “Dr.Venkataswamy will be a ‘beacon light’ for the entire ophthalmologists and eye care centres across the nation. His services….. will definitely ensure that the Right to Sight programme will succeed positively.”
Dr. Abdul Kalam said, whenever he thought of a great soul like Dr. Venkataswamy, he would remember an ancient belief about what God had spoken to the first man he had created. “We have made thee (you) neither of heaven or earth, neither mortal nor immortal, so that with freedom of choice and with honour, as though the maker and molder of thyself (yourself), thou mayest (you may) fashion thyself in whatever shape thou shalt prefer” – these were the words uttered by God to the first man.

The President continued and said that when he see the divine services of Dr. G. Venkataswamy, he could see that he has succeeded in fulfilling God’s mission for a man. With freedom of choice and honour he has molded himself into what he wanted to become.

Dr. Abdul Kalam who began his address in Tamil and later switched over to English recited the following verses in English:

Lead Kindly Light
“Oh Almighty, you gave us light,
Light and remove the utter darkness,
His was the enlightened soul
The soul touched everyone,
Oh Almighty, lead kindly light.”

While inviting the President who appeared on the large screen of the auditorium to share his experiences of his association with Dr. V, Aravind’s Chairman Dr. P. Namperumalsamy said that the inevitable has happened. The light has vanished, but the mission for which the light lived will be continued. He pledged on behalf of the Aravind Family including the staff and employees of Aravind Eye Care System that they will go on working towards realising Dr. V’s vision of a world, free from needless blindness.

The prayer meeting was addressed by Dr. V’s contemporaries and associates who shed light on his multifarious activities and wonderful qualities of simplicity, humanitarianism, nationalism, spiritualism and professionalism.

Dr. Sam C. Bose reminisced the days when Dr. V worked as a Government doctor in the Rajaji Government Hospital, Madurai to highlight his characteristics of punctuality and hard work. Dr. R. Kausalya Devi, Managing Trustee, Gandhigram Trust said that Dr. V was a true Gandhian who always maintained his association with Gandhigram institutions. Shri Paulraj of Gandhi Niketan Ashram, Kallupatti, remarked that as Mahatma Gandhi had led a national movement for the liberation of India, Dr. V started a movement to liberate the visually handicapped from the darkness of sightlessness.

Shri. Vijay Poddar of Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry spoke on how Dr. V lived a spiritual life as enunciated by Shri. Aurobindo and the Mother. Shri. Lalji Vohra, a city business man lauded the services of Dr. V to the community through the Eye Bank.

Dr. G.N. Rao, President of the International Association for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and belonging to L.V. Prasad Eye Institute of Hyderabad commended the lasting services of Dr. V to international ophthalmology. Mr. D. Nagarajan, Consultant, LAICO, dwelt in detail the services rendered by Dr. V in collaboration with SEVA and Sight Savers International. Shri Dhinakaran of Aruppukottai Jayavilas group, Shri. N.A.K Gopalakrishna Raja, Grant Administrator of LAICO, Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, CMO, Aravind-Madurai, Shri. Rathinavelu, President, Tamilnadu Chamber of Industries and Commerce and Dr. Sethuraman, Chairman of Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Madurai spoke eulogizing the services of Dr. V.

Shri G. Srinivasan, Director-Finance, Aravind Eye Care System proposed a vote of thanks. When the prayer meeting came to an end, a still picture of Dr. V was projected on the screen with the title “The spiritual Light will last for ever.” And the gathering dispersed with a heavy heart. Many of the eyes had become wet.

Honouring the Light programme was also held in all the satellite hospitals of Aravind. The news regarding the programme will be published in the next issue.

In the field of eye care, Information Technology has transitioned from being merely automating routine administrative tasks to becoming an important tool for management and an integral part of patient care. This workshop on “IT applications in eye care” was designed to gain knowledge about current trends and status of Information Technology and share experiences of various IT applications in eye care settings.

Two eye care majors in the State — Sankara Nethralaya and Aravind Eye Care System —jointly organized the workshop under the auspices of Vision 2020-The Right to Sight India, a national organisation.

According to Dr. S.S. Badrinath, Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, IT gains relevance in all aspects of ophthalmology from management to diagnosis and it is very important in the scenario of swelling cases of diabetic retinopathy across the country. Deployment and extensive use of Information Technology alone can bridge the gap between urban and rural eye care availabilities and one of the effective tools could be tele-ophthalmology.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman of Aravind Eye Care System, said five Village Vision Centres have been established in Theni district. Twenty more centres will be opened in the State and Pondicherry. Para-medical personnel would man the centres and quality treatment would be provided from the main hospital.

The National Executive Director of VISION 2020-India, Mr. P.K.M. Swamy, and its President, Mr. R. D. Thulasiraj, also spoke. The founder of Sify.com, R. Ramraj, was among those who took part in the inaugural function.

Besides the participation of a few IT companies, more than 70 delegates from India, Bangladesh and Nepal attended the workshop

Dr. G. Venkataswamy was confered the Jose Rizal Medal for excellence in Ophthalmology in Asia and Pacific countries by the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. N.V. Prajna receives the award on his behalf in the presentation ceremony held in Singapore.

The fifth Vision Centre was inaugurated at Periyakulam, a rural town in Theni District. The centre was inaugurated by Mr. P.A.A. Mohammad Iliyas, Chairman and Mr. K. Ganesan, Commissioner of Periyakulam Municipality in the presence of Aravind Senior Leadership team. It will serve the local people and villagers of the surrounding areas.

As part of the capacity building programme, Mr. Keerti Bhusan Pradhan, Mr. R. Meenakshi Sundaram, and Mr. B. Ganesh Babu visited He Eye Hospital, Shenyang, China. HE Eye hospital founded by Dr Wei He, an young visionary who has set up this Not for Profit Eye Hospital with a mission to serve people of Northern China and also become a model hospital in the region. In order to realise his vision he invited consultants from Aravind Eye Care System-LAICO to help the organization and staff with capacity enhancement.


The history of partnership of Aravind Eye Care System with HE Eye Hospital, Shenyang started likewise:

     1) Dr Wei He visits Indian Eye Hospital in 2001. (As part of ORBIS sponsored visitors)
     2) Selects Aravind Eye Care System as role model in 2001 after visiting all models in India.
     3) Dr S Aravind of AECS visits He Eye Hospital, Shenyang in 2001.
     4) One staff-Zhao Ming from He Eye Hospital undergoes hospital management course at LAICO in 2005.
     5) Core staff team from He Eye Hospital visits Aravind Eye Care System in February 1, 2006.
     6) Consultants from AECS visits He Eye Hospital for consultancy in April 13, 2006.

The three consultants during the stay helped in three areas: Strategic growth and development, Community Outreach and MIS. HE Eye Hospital looks forward to a greater partnership with AECS in the days to come. HE has already in mind a Aurolab and LAICO model besides growing the services in the hospital.

The first Glaucoma Retreat of Aravind Eye Care System was conducted on 8th and 9th of April, 2006 at Courtallam. The venue was ‘Krish Gardens’ a vacation resort situated in the midst of a farm in the pleasant atmosphere of Courtallam. The retreat was attended by a total of 26 participants including Glaucoma Specialist-9, Glaucoma Fellows-2, MLOP’s (OPD Nurses and Consellors)-7, Glaucoma Co-ordinator-1, Research Co-ordinator-1, Aurolab Representatives-2, LAICO Representative-1 and Management Fellows-3.

The objectives of the retreat were:

     1) To evolve the Preferred Practice Pattern (PPP) in various areas of patient care and to standardize quality of eye care across all Aravind centres
     2) To Standardize the various training programmes including long and short term Fellowships in Glaucoma and training for PG residents and other speciality Fellows
The retreat was started with prayer and Dr. Venkatesh welcomed the participants. It was followed by an introductory presentation by Dr. Ramakrishnan about the evolution of Glaucoma speciality in Aravind and the purpose of the retreat. Dr. Krishnadas did a presentation on Glaucoma in the next five years.

The topics were grouped into 3 major categories such as Training, Clinical Care and Developmental/Academic activities. The presentations were followed by discussions that led to consensus. The MLOP’s had separate group discussion in each topic facilitated by one Management Fellow and glaucoma clinic co-ordinator and the representatives presented the summaries of the each discussion by the end. The decisions made were translated into action plans with a person responsible and specific time frame. The time frame varies from one week to two months. Therefore, it was suggested to have a review session by the end of 3 months to assess the progress.

The documentation of all the proceedings was done by the LAICO team.
Staff from the catering and house keeping departments of the AEH Tirunelveli provided delicious food and made the stay comfortable. The sessions came to an end by 1.00pm on the second day. Dr. Venkatesh proposed the vote of thanks and the retreat was dispersed with Aravind Anthem.

On the death of Rotary founder Paul Harris in 1947, Rotarians contributed $1.3 million to The Rotary Foundation in his honor. With these donations the Foundation created the Scholarship program, its first significant international service program. Rotarians continue this tradition of honoring Rotary’s founder by making contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Each individual who contributes or in whose name $1,000 is contributed - upon request is designated a Paul Harris Fellow.
A number of Rotary clubs also use this recognition as a way of honoring local, national or world leaders who have demonstrated commitment to the goals and purposes of the Foundation. Thus Mr. R. D. Thulasiraj was recommended by Rtn. Gabriel Minder from Switzerland and awarded the honorary Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary club of Trichirapalli Rock City, in appreciation of his tangible and significant assistance for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world. He received a commemorative certificate, a Paul Harris Fellow pin, and a medallion.

It has been a wonderful experience for the whole team since we have arrived in Amethi. On our arrival we frankly got a bit concerned by the slow pace of construction going on at the hospital. To tackle that initial problem of the delay in construction head on, we started functioning at the old Sanjay Gandhi Hospital (SGH) Eye Department on Dr. Aravind Sirs’ idea and advice. This singularly got everyone working and busy thinking about their respective departments and helped immensely to get our system in place at the earliest.

After shifting into our new premises also, we had some infrastructural problems initially and we had to take the help of the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital facilities but the team persevered well and we could manage to get things done, although the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital employees were a bit resistant and skeptical about us. Our sisters were even discouraged “I have been here for 30 years. I know and I am telling you people that this new hospital will not be able to run after the initial limelight is over”, said one senior employee of SGH. But as our Chief had told us in one of our meetings with him “Sincere and good work is always appreciated and Wins friends” was exactly what ultimately happened. Slowly our work began to be appreciated and today that same person and many other SGH employees turn up at our OPD even getting their relatives & family. It is certainly very satisfying to win them over.

The Life Line Express was the best thing that could have happened to us. Even though our set up at the Base hospital was not fully functional at the time, we were able to do 550 surgeries at the Life line. Of course, surgically, Dr. Dipanjan’s help was crucial in the whole effort but also in terms of organization and management the Life line camp was our mettle test and it is a matter of pride that the whole team performed very efficiently.

We have definitely had problems, but as our Chief says “Problems will always be there but there will always be some good people also” helped us tide over many situations. All the sisters did a wonderful job not worrying about their extended hours of work and tiresome traveling everyday & were the sheet anchors of our success. The Life line experience gave us the first & probably the best opportunity to prove ourselves to the community, head start.

The formal inauguration was full of expectations and excitement both for the local population and us. The visit of the Senior Leadership Team for the inauguration was a big morale booster for all of us. Their interactions with the team and advice helped us to improve the system. Their words of encouragement and blessings pumped up the whole team.

Thanks to the lifeline & our own work at IGEHRC before the inauguration a very positive impression went to the local population especially regarding our work culture & values and people really appreciated our services. You will be glad to hear that today we are attracting patients not only from the adjoining districts but also from relatively far off cities like Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Jaunpur and even Lucknow. Patients who had been going to other hospitals in Delhi for treatment and review are coming to us and say “You do whatever you can; I am not going anywhere else”. Our hospitals honesty and integrity has won many a hearts. One patient was in pleasant disbelief when he was refunded some money because a rigid instead of a foldable IOL was implanted due to non availability of the IOL power at that time.

The glaucoma clinic is getting a lot of patients every day. Initially we were a bit apprehensive about the patients’ response to YAG PI in an eye with good vision and apparently normal to them. But to our surprise they have been very receptive to our counselling and the acceptance for YAG PI is almost more than 95%.

The hospital has certainly developed a lot of trust and faith in the community. The response to our outreach camps has also been very good. The excellent system and the services that the patients get at the hospital surprise them. The earlier culture that the local people were used to was that of totally free surgeries (although without even an average visual outcome, no post op reviews and no management of complications).We came across an alarming rate of eyes with intra operative complications, post operative Pthisical and Absolute eyes. The initial apprehension about charging Rs. 500 per surgery disappeared at our first camp only. The news of the results of our Life line camp had spread by now and people were more than happy to pay for a good quality work. We had a final IP one & half times than expected.

We have referred some cases to Aravind-Madurai also. One patient with severe proptosis due to pleomorphic adenoma, was operated by Dr. Usha Madam and his post op results are wonderful. On his review with us after coming back he said “I was so dejected and depressed with life, I had lost all hope. Now I have got another life, Thanks to Aravind”.

The Amethi sisters have been quite resilient and sincere in their work. Although there were some initial adjustment problems but now they have matured into a hardworking and dedicated team who are willing to learn. Of course, most of the credit for that goes to our Madurai sisters who have really led them by sheer example.

The immense support and advice from everyone at Aravind has been our greatest strength. Dr. Aravind Sir has been our pillar of strength and constant mentor, indeed a friend, philosopher and a guide in our every effort, day after day. With him I have had a first hand experience of how to turn difficulties into real opportunities.

We have had some problems also. One of the hurdles was the waiting time in the OP, especially between 10 AM to 2 PM. Because of an almost nonexistent public transport system around the hospital most of the patients find it difficult to wait after 3:30 – 4 PM. We have certainly been able to curtail the waiting time but we need to improve more on that.

We hope to continue our efforts towards building more and more faith and good- will in the community by doing even better work and we seek your blessings for the same.

Thanking You with Sincere Regards,

Dr. Ashutosh Khandelwal
IGEHRC, Amethi

Aravind leadership team normally takes some time off to look at the steps to plan our further growth towards its Mission. This happens once in five years. Aravind’s good friend and well wisher Prof Fred Munson has been guiding us and facilitating these Leadership Retreats. This year Cindy Harrison, Vice President, Chelsea Hospital was also present for the retreat. The leadership retreat was held on January 7-8, 2006 at Hotel Pandyan in Madurai.
The Leadership team presented on various strategies focusing on the mission. The purpose of this Retreat was to develop a shared understanding of what we want to become as an organization.
The following aspects were discussed in the leadership retreat:
- identify the values that define us as an organization.
- review the changes that we will likely, or certainly face in the next five-ten years,
- discuss ideas that each of you will bring to the Retreat (see the assignment below) to make us a better organization
- identify what qualities the Aravind Eye Care System needs to have in order generate, evaluate and introduce new ideas that will continuously make us a better organization
- based on that shared understanding of what we want to become, agree on the steps we are going to take to get there.
- finally, each of us, individually, decide on what we will do to begin the process

Aravind-Tirunelveli, December 14 Essilor India Pvt. Ltd. opened their fourth surfacing Lab at Aravind Eye Hospital, Tirunelveli. The function was graced by the presence of Dr. S. Aravind, Administrator, Aravind – Madurai, Mr. Rengarajan, Senior Operations Manager, Essilor India Pvt. Ltd. – Bangalore, Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, CMO, Ms. Sharadha Ramakrishnan, Doctors and staff members from various departments of Aravind– Tirunelveli. The function was inaugurated by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan.
After this auspicious beginning, Dr. S. Aravind gave a short introductory speech about the Market share of Plastic lenses in India and benefits of opening this lab in the hospital. Mr. Rengarajan also gave a short speech about Essilor Lab and the joint venture between Aravind Eye Hospital and Essilor Lab. Mr. G.S. Rajan, Surfacing In-charge, Essilor India Pvt. Ltd. explained the functions of various machinery’s in the Laboratory.

We are glad to inform you that we are completing one year service at Melur Community Centre on 15th December 2005.
Members from Senior leadership team comprising Dr.G. Natchiar Director HRD, Dr.M. Srinivasan Director AECS, Dr.S. Aravind Administrator and other staffs contributed to the inception of this centre, attended the celebration.
Dr.G.Natchiar discussed with melur team about the current performance and future plans to develop the centre.

World Sight Day is an annual event focusing on the problem of global blindness. The event, took place this year on 13 October 2005, to draw attention to the right to sight. It provided an opportunity to become more aware and more committed to ensuring the right to sight for all. Hundreds of events took place throughout the world to mark this occasion. Aravind Eye Care System, as a partner of the Vision 2020- Right to Sight Global initiative is committed to increase awareness of the need to involve the community in the combat against blindness.

A World Sight Day rally was organized in Aravind-Madurai on 13th October in which children from various city schools and Eye health workers and public participated. It was inaugurated by Shri Tripathi, Inspector- General of Police. An awareness meeting was held in the Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology where Shri Vijay Kumar, Commissioner of Police distributed awards to School children who had participated in various activities on the theme ‘Sight”. Dr. Namperumalsamy, Vice Chairman of the Aravind Eye Care System delivered his special world sight day message and Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director of the Aravind Eye Hospitals spoke on the need of increased awareness among the public and their role in prevention of needless blindness. Drs Ravichandran & Ilango interacted with the public on eye diseases in children. Similar programmes were held in all the satellite hospitals of Aravind.

Having succeeded considerably in providing consultancy to 196 hospitals, LAICO is moving one step ahead to manage 100 other hospitals which can replicate the Aravind’s way of working in other parts of the world. In this regard Aravind Eye Hospital has joined hand with Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust to start Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital and research centre at Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.To proceed in starting Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Centre, training programmes for 4 ophthalmologists, 32 paramedics, 4 administrative staff and 6 supportive staff were conducted

Vision 2020 – The Right to Sight, a global initiative launched to eliminate needless blindness worldwide has framed solid strategies aimed at disease control, awareness creation and increased uptake of eye care services. This is to be achieved by increasing the trained human resources and establishing adequate infrastructure that incorporates primary to tertiary eye care.

As part of implementing this global initiative, Government of India and NGOs working in eye care are committed to establish comprehensive primary eye care in rural areas through vision centres whereby each centre would cater to 40,000 to 50,000 rural population. It is estimated that around 20,000 such vision centres will be established across the country by the year 2020.

Role of vision centres is to provide comprehensive primary eye care, referral services and also create adequate awareness creation in the community.

It is estimated that there are around 12 million blind people in India of which 60 – 65% is due to cataract. India performs highest number of surgeries in the world, 4.5 million surgeries in the year 2004 alone. However, various studies conducted by Aravind have found that there is a very low uptake of eye care services (just 7%) and accessibility in spite of increased number of eye camps. Hence it becomes important to develop alternative sustainable approaches to address the issue. Aravind Eye Care System, being a pioneer in providing eye care services to the rural population through strengthened public and private partnership, has taken the initiative of setting up vision centres in Theni district at the rate of at the least one centre per block in the initial days. International Eye Foundation (IEF), a US based not for profit organisation supporting eye care activities in developing countries has come together with Aravind in supporting this initiative. So far Aravind has established vision centres at Ambasumithram (April 14th, 2004) and Aundipatty (November 26th 2004) catering to a total of one lakh population in their respective service area.

Mandate of Aravind Vision Centres is to provide comprehensive primary eye care services to the targeted population by increasing the accessibility, sense of urgency & importance and awareness. In long term, these vision centres will replace the existing outreach eye screening camps as the camp approach is a not sustainable and also it does not provide continuity of care to the patients thus leaving patients to remain blind for considerable period. The services include screening, refraction, first aid, active referral, school screening and creating awareness and eye health education and promotion. Added feature of these vision centres is dispensing of spectacles at the centre on the same day. In addition to the above said services, outreach screening camps for speciality eye problems like diabetic retinopathy will be conducted twice a year at each vision centres. This is carried out to increase awareness about the advantage of early detection and treatment of such advanced eye problems. These camps were first initiated by Aravind through various community based programmes.

Aravind has blended information technology innovatively into these centres facilitating online (live) collaboration for each patient with the ophthalmologists at the Aravind Eye Hospitals in Theni which is a low cost telemedicine approach. This approach which is unique helps patients acquire right treatment advice directly from ophthalmologists which saves lot of time and money to the patients. Aravind pursues telemedicine in an innovative manner that resulted in developing an appropriate store and forward software which will be given to the Aravind partner hospitals in the country and overseas. These centres charge a nominal cost of Rs. 10 for outpatient visits. Other services like testing for diabetes, etc. are also provided. This facilitates in counseling these patients about the significance of diabetes and its direct implication to eyes in the form of blinding but preventable eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy.

Each centre is run by a well trained ophthalmic technician, a kiosk operator and community link worker. From its inception, vision centres at Ambasumithram and Aundipatty together have screened around 4,784 patients (3856 – New; 883 – follow-up), 448 spectacles have been dispensed and 150 patients have undergone cataract surgeries at Aravind, Theni who were identified for cataract at these centres. In addition to this, 6187 children from 19 schools were screened of which 102 children were prescribed for spectacles and same were dispensed immediately (this data is till July 2005)

Vision Centre at Bodi is third in the line inaugurated on September 14th 2005. More such centres are in pipeline covering all the blocks in Theni District.