| Awards and Accolades |
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FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR AWARD & VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
Udumalpet, December 17
Rotary Club of Udumalpet awarded “For the sake of honour award” to
Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman and to Dr. G. Natchiar, Vice-chairman, AECS. Vocational Excellence Awards were presented to Dr. Narendran, CMO, and to Dr. Kalpana Narendran, Senior Medical Officer, Aravind-Coimbatore.
MS. SUGANTHALAKSHMI IS BACK FROM FELLOWSHIP
Ms. Suganthalakshmi, Senior Research Fellow, Aravind Medical Research Foundation was awarded the pre-doctoral fellowship to work at the National Eye Institute, NIH, Maryland, USA from July 2007 to November 2008. During this period she worked on the project “Association studies on Diabetic Retinopathy in Southern Indian population” under the guidance of Dr.J.Fielding Hejtmancik and she rejoined AMRF in December 2008. This visit has been a benefit to our ongoing research activity and will also be helpful in establishing many of the methodologies learned in the AMRF work setting and in building other collaborative projects.
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| Special Events |
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Inauguration of Usilampatti Vision Centre
Usilampatti, December 12
Vision Centre at Usilampatti was inaugurated on December 12 by Dr. M.Srinivasan, Director, AECS. Totally 75 cases were seen. Local panchayat leader, school head master, college professor, retired govt. executives, Indian bank manager, community leaders participated from the public. Dr.M.Srinivasan explained about the necessity of the vision center in the village and functions of the center. Mr. R.Meenakshi Sundaram, senior camp manager, Mr.Manimuthu, project manager attended the function. Mr.R.Ramesh Babu, Free hospital manager, and Mr.R.Pothiraj, camp organizer, organised the function.
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| Conferences Attended Elsewhere |
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ANNUAL MEET OF THE PHILIPPINES ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
Philippines, Manila, November 26-29
Dr. Shivakumar, Chief of Cataract Clinic participated in the Annual Meet of the Philippines Academy of Ophthalmology from November 26-29 as a guest faculty and presented a talk on "Aravind Eye Hospital MSICS Training Course" as part of an Instruction Course in MSICS. The course was aimed at presenting MSICS as an affordable and viable alternative to phacoemulsification.
VITREO RETINA SOCIETY OF INDIA CONFERENCE
Kolkatta, December 4-6
Dr. Parag K. Shah
- Dosimetry & treatment planning for ophthalmic Brachytherapy using indigenous iodine -125 seeds for choroidal melanomas
Dr. George Manayath received Best Poster Award for the poster presented on
- Sub threshold TTT for Chronic CSR
Dr. V Narendran, Dr. V.R. Saravanan, Dr. Rodney J. Morris, Dr. Rama Subba Reddy, and Dr. Thomas K. Chacko participated in the conference
VISION 2020 CONFERENCE
Kathmandu, Nepal, December 5-9
Dr. P.Vijayalakshmi, and Dr. Anil Kumar attended Vision 2020 conference at Nepal and highlighted the challenges faced in paediatric cataract followed by evaluation, surgical management and post operative management to an audience of local ophthalmologists and practicing paediatric ophthalmology and eye care Managers.
A similar session along with an interactive program was conducted on December 6 at Biratnagar eye hospital, Birat nagar, Nepal. The following day Dr. P. Vijayalakshmi, interacted with ophthalmologists, and conducted a session on practical approach to a child with eye problems. This included strabismus, amblyopia and low vision. She examined children in the OPD and gave suggestions.
On 9th December she spoke on recent advances in paediatric cataract surgery in the Tribhuvan teaching eye hospital, (Kathmandu – Nepal) followed by discussion of development of a paediatric ophthalmology unit at National Children Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal and gave valuable inputs.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF OCULOPLASTY ASSOCIATION OF INDIA
Hyderabad, December 5-7
The best poster award was given to Dr.Akash D Shah, Dr.Usha Kim, Dr.Vipul Arora, and Dr.M.G.Raginikanth for the paper presented on
- A study of clinical, hispathological profile and outcome of sino-orbital aspergillus in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals
Dr.Gagan Dudeja, Dr.Usha Kim, and Dr.Krishna Kumar received best poster award for the paper on
- Efficacy, surgical outcome and complications of frontalis sling suspension surgery using silicon rod (Auro sling) Ehibond materials
Dr.Akash D.Shah and Dr.Akang participated in the meeting.
FORESIGHT - 2008
St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru, December 6-7
Dr.R.Ramakrishnan
- Performed a live surgery
- SICS Trabeculectomy
- Diagnosis and Management of Congenital Glaucoma
PUNJAB STATE OPHTHALMIC CONFERENCE
Jalander, December 20-21
Dr.R.Ramakrishnan
- Risk factors for Progression of OHT and POAG
- An overview on Paediatric Glaucoma
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| CMEs and Courses at Aravind Eye Hospitals |
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A-SCAN BIOMETRY WORKSHOP
Aravind School of Optometry, December 7
To refresh the biometry practice and to get acquainted with recent innovations, ASO organised a one day workshop on “A-Scan Biometry ". A total of 38 refractionists from Aravind-Madurai and other satellite hospitals attended this workshop. Mr.Muthuramalingam, chief refractionist delivered welcome address and initiated the program. The main objective of the workshop was to learn the immersion technique in A-Scan Biometry.
The workshop was supported by Alcon Laboratories.Various topics such as keretometry, IOL calculations and various types of biometrical methods were discussed and hands on practice with OCUSCAN machine was conducted. The workshop was completed with memento presentation to the visitors and vote of thanks proposed by Dr.P.M.Aravind, Medical Officer.
PHACOEXCEL CME
Aravind-Madurai, December 13-14
The Department of Cataract & IOL services, Aravind-Madurai conducted a two day CME titled PHACOEXCEL-2008 from December 13-14 at LAICO. It was a comprehensive information-packed workshop focusing on various aspects of cataract surgery-both basics and the most recent advancements.
About 120 delegates from various parts of the country and some international short term trainees participated in this CME. The two days were filled with lectures, debates, video sessions and live surgery rendered by almost 25 internal faculty from all the satellite hospitals and 5 guest faculty.
The guest faculty who graced this occasion were Dr.David Lubeck, senior cataract and refractive surgeon from Illinois, USA; Dr.Jeevan Titiyal, Additional Professor in cornea and refractive surgery, R.P. Centre, New Delhi; Dr.Prashanth Garg, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Director of Education at L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad; Dr.Mathew Kurian, Consultant from Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore and Dr.Minu Mathen, Senior consultant from Chaitanya Eye Hospital and Research Institute, Trivandrum.
The entire program was transmitted live to the AMECS centers, Kolkota and Lucknow (Doctors from Amethi came to Lucknow for the telecast) through video conferencing and the doctors at those hospitals had the opportunity to listen and interact real-time with the faculty here. The CME served as a good opportunity for all the delegates to learn and interact with the experts in the field of cataract surgery.
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| Other News and Events |
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FESTIVE FRIDAY – “CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR”
Aravind-Coimbatore, December 19
Festive Friday was celebrated at Aravind-Coimbatore on December 19. The theme was “Christmas & New Year”. The program commenced with a Mime depicting a theme from the Holy Bible. The team also tried to portray the birth of Jesus through a drama. Towards the end of the whole program, the Christmas Santa Claus came with sweets and made the gathering laugh and dance. Everywhere it was enjoyment and joy of welcoming the New Year 2009.
Mr. Sam Asair, X-ray technician and Mr.Vincer, DOT student took initiative in every activity and they leaded and organised the program. It is appreciable that they made an impeccable attempt to make the occasion so marvelous. They succeeded in winning the crowd’s hearts by their creativity and they evinced high level of energy and enthusiasm. The people were really moved by their stunning performance.
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| LAICO Happenings |
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NEEDS ASSESSMENT VISIT
Srisadguru sankalp Netra Chikitsalaya, Anandpur, Madhya Pradesh
December 5-6
Mr. Suresh Kumar, faculty, LAICO, and Dr.Rajesh Prabu made a Needs Assessment Visit to Shri Sadguru Sankalp Netra Chikitsalaya at Anandpur. The main purpose of the visit was to establish a relationship with the hospital and gain a better understanding of working processes, to identify key issues for development during the subsequent "Vision Building Workshop", and to explain the process and brief the hospital on the Workshop.
Nigeria, December 8-18
Ms.Sashi priya, faculty, LAICO, Dr.Sri Shankar, Cornea Clinic, Aravind-Coimbatore and Mr.Prasanth, faculty, LAICO made a Needs Assessment Visit to Ebonyi Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Eye Foundation, Ijebu-ode, Lagos, and Mission Hospitals
- St. Mary’s Catholic Eye Hospital, Ago-Iwoye;
- Eleta Eye Institute, Eleta, Ibadan;
- Atupa Eye Clinic, Our Lady Hospital, Iseyin
- AM Eye Clinic, Eruwa
M.M. Joshi Eye Institute, Hubli, Karnataka December 11-12
Dr.Ramakrishnan, Aravind-Coimbatore and Mr. Vasantha Kumar, faculty, LAICO made a Needs Assessment Visit to M.M. Joshi Eye Institute, Karnataka from December 11-12. The main purpose of the visit was to
- Gain first hand understanding of the functioning of the hospital, its current issues, challenges and opportunities
- Discuss with the staff members and the ophthalmologists of the Hospital, come up with possible suggestions for improvement through LAICO capacity building process.
WORKSHOP ON PRIMARY EYE CARE MANAGEMENT FOR PROJECT MANAGER
LAICO, August 26-28
Festive Friday was celebrated at Aravind-Coimbatore on December 19. The Theme was “Christmas and New Year”. The program commenced with a mime depicting a theme from the Holy Bible. The team also tried to portray the birth of Jesus through a drama. Towards the end of the whole program, the Christmas Santa Claus came with sweets and made the gathering laugh and dance. Everywhere it was enjoyment and joy of welcoming the New Year 2009.
Mr Sam Asair our X-ray technician and Mr.Vincer DOT student took initiative in every activity and they leaded and organised the program. They succeeded in winning the crowd’s hearts by their creativity. The people were really moved by their stunning performance.
VISIT TO NEPAL
Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal, December 4-10
Mr. Ganesh Babu, Senior Manager, IT & Systems, LAICO visited Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh from December 4-10. The main objective of his visit is to
- Test and demonstrate the possibility of sharing summary data to a central database at NNJS, Kathmandu
- To discuss on the overall requirement of central data
- To demonstrate Primary Eye Care Centre software
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| Internal Capacity Building |
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Internal Capacity Building
Dr.Mohideen Abdul Kader, Glaucoma consultant, Aravind-Tirunelveli underwent training at Moorfield Eye Hospital, London under Dr.Maria Papadopoulos MD from October 13-17, 2008 and had training in Tube-shunt surgeries. He participated in the III- International Glaucoma surgery (IGS) meeting at Recklinghansen, Germany, from October 24-26, and also had training for non-penetrating filtering surgery (NPFS) (Canaloplasty) at Recklinghansen Eye Centre from October 20-29 under Dr.Gabour B.Scharioth.
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| Aravind Managed Eye Care Services (AMECS) |
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AMECS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
Aurolab, December 19-20
AMECS leadership development workshop was a two day event from December 19-20 held at Aurolab. Participants were representatives from partner organisation (Trustee), CMO, Deputy CMO and Administrator from all the four managed hospitals. The aim of this workshop was to create a platform in which the different dimensions of leadership was brought to the fore by the experts. The workshop strived at bringing forth the leadership transformation for the operational team working in the managed hospitals through discussions, presentations and team building exercises.
PHACO-EXCEL
Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital & Research Centre, Lucknow, December 13-14
Phaco-Excel workshop was held at Aravind-Madurai from December 13-14. IGEHRC also took active participation in this workshop through video conferencing. This two day workshop comprised of lectures and live surgeries by renowned professionals in the field of Ophthalmology. The video conferencing facility was set up at IGEHRC, Lucknow and was attended by doctors of both Amethi and Lucknow.
NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS
Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital & Research Centre, Lucknow, December 31
New Year celebrations were held at IGEHRC, Lucknow for the entire staff on 31st evening by the HR Department. All the staff took active participation in all the events. They were divided into 3 teams. The following were the events that were organized
- Magical Box: Five persons per team had to come, and one has selected a chit from the lot. There’s a puzzle in it which is to be solved by this five member team, then one among them have to collect that thing from the covered cardboard box with a small hole in which only a hand can go and the box was filled with loads of things and waste papers.
- Dance to the Tunes: All the staff was made to stand in a circle, as the music plays a cushion was passed on, once the music stops whoever was having the cushion in their hand was considered out and at the same time has to pick up a chit from the lot and do whatever is written in it.
- Musical Chair: Chairs were put in circle and staff had to run around it, as the music stopped all have to occupy a chair, whoever is left is considered out.
After the games were over all the staff assembled together and cut the “New Year Cake”. Special Dinner was arranged to all staff. Prizes were distributed to the winning teams and “Special Prizes” were given to our MLOP’s per department who have continuously got above 70% in the last one month (exams conducted on every Saturday).
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| Training Programmes |
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| TRAINING PROGRAMMES AT ARAVIND |
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Course title |
Training Centre |
Total number trained as on October 2008 |
Enrollments for Novenber 2008 |
Long Term Fellowship Programmes - For Ophthalmologists
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Fellowship in Orbit and Oculoplasty |
Madurai |
18 |
1 |
Fellowship in Retina Vitreous |
Madurai |
80 |
0 |
| Puducherry |
2 |
1 |
| Coimbatore |
13 |
0 |
Fellowship in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus |
Madurai |
42 |
0 |
| Coimbatore |
11 |
0 |
| Puducherry |
0 |
1 |
Fellowship in General Ophthalmology |
Madurai |
13 |
0 |
| Puducherry |
14 |
1 |
| Tirunelveli |
4 |
0 |
Short Term Courses - For Ophthalmologists |
Diagnosis and Management of Glaucoma |
Madurai |
90 |
1 |
| Tirunelveli |
73 |
1 |
| Coimbatore |
61 |
1 |
IOL Micro surgery |
Madurai |
669 |
2 |
| Tirunelveli |
253 |
1 |
| Coimbatore |
187 |
2 |
| Puducherry |
7 |
0 |
Lasers in Diabetic Retinopathy |
Madurai |
204 |
2 |
| Coimbatore |
180 |
3 |
Phacoemulsification |
Madurai |
85 |
1 |
| Tirunelveli |
39 |
1 |
| Coimbatore |
49 |
0 |
| Puducherry |
12 |
0 |
Small Incision Cataract Surgery |
Madurai |
112 |
3 |
| Tirunelveli |
80 |
2 |
| Coimbatore |
86 |
1 |
| Puducherry |
7 |
1 |
Fundus Fluorescein Angiography and Ultrasonography |
Madurai |
26 |
1 |
Community Outreach Course - Non Clinical Course
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Community Outreach and Social Marketing of Eye Care Services |
Madurai |
198 |
12 |
Instrument Maintenance - Non Clinical Course
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Instrument Maintenance - Technician |
Madurai |
357 |
4 |
| Puducherry |
2 |
0 |
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| Aurolab News |
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GRADUATION DAY CELEBRATION
Aurolab, December 6
Graduation day was celebrated at Aurolab on December 6 for the trainees who have completed one year training programme. The function started with the prayer song followed by welcome address by Ms. Selvi. Felicitation address was given by Mr. P. Balakrishnan, Managing Director, Aurolab, Dr. G. Natchiar, Vice-Chairman, AECS, Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director, and Dr. Usha Kim, Head, Department of Mid Level Ophthalmic Personnel Training. It was followed by cultural activities by junior sisters. Ms. Sheela delivered vote of thanks.
BEST ADVERTISEMENT AWARD
32 Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Surgery (ISSH) & Second combined meeting of British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH), Bangalore,
November 28-30
Aurolab participated in the 32nd Annual Conference of the ISSH and the second combined meeting of the (BSSH) and (ISSH) held at Bangalore from November 28-30. As a part, Aurolab had taken a stall and released full page colour advertisement in the souvenir. Aurolab advertisement had been selected as best advertisement among other. As a result, Aurolab advertisement found the first page of the book which was circulated among 225 surgeons.
DOMESTIC STATE CONFERENCE
In the month of December Ophthalmic conferences were held in Bihar and Punjab. Area Development Managers and Dealers from respective region represented Aurolab in the conferences. Aurolab took this opportunity to introduce its new products “Ocublue Plus” – A New & Better Dye for ILM Peeling and “Aurosling” - An implantable flexible silicon rod swaged to malleable sharp needles with a 7mm silicon sleeve. Besides they supported the existing products of Aurolab to the ophthalmic society.
XVII VITREO RETINAL SOCIETY OF INDIA CONFERENCE
Raichak, West Bengal, December 4-6
Mr. Venkatesa Kannan, Manager – Pharma Division participated in the XVII Vitreo Retinal Society of India Conference held at Raichak, West Bengal from
December 4-6. He actively promoted the “Ocublue Plus” – A New & Better Dye for ILM Peeling and “Reti Eye” – A tool to practice Indirect Ophthalmoscopy and Photocoagulation and strongly supported Aurolab’s Retinal products in the conference.
19TH ANNUAL MEETING OF OCULOPLASTY ASSOCIATION OF INDIA
Gurgaon, December 5-7
Mr. Padmanabhan, Product Manager-Suture Needle Division and Mr. Hemchand Pal, Area Development Manager attended the 19th Annual Meeting of the Oculoplasty Association of India held at Gurgaon. They promoted “Aurosling” - An implantable flexible silicon rod swaged to malleable sharp needles with a 7mm silicon sleeve for Perfect Ptosis Surgery and other sutures of Aurolab. Aurolab sponsor the live surgery session for Aurosling (Frontalis Suspension Set).
AUROLAB VISITORS
- A team of 17 MBA students and Dr. K. Venkateswara Rao from University of Hyderabad visited Aurolab on December 1 for getting exposure of Aravind Eye Care System
- A team of five Doctors from Islamia Eye Hospital, Bangladesh visited Aurolab on December 2 for an orientation about Aravind Eye Care System
- A team of 18 MBA students and Ms. Greco Amanda, Assistant Director, Service Learning Program of “Stanford Graduate School of Business”, California visited Aurolab on December 20 for getting overview about Aravind Eye Care System.
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| Publications |
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Parthasarathy Arpitha, PhD; Namperumalsamy V Prajna, DNB, FRCOpth; Muthiah Srinivasan, MD, DO; Veerappan Muthukkaruppan, PhD
CORNEA, DEC 2008 P. 1164-1170.
A Subset of Human Limbal Epithelial Cells with Greater Nucleus-to-Cytoplasm Ratio Expressing High Levels of p63 Possesses Slow-Cycling Property.
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Nitin Deshpande, MRCO; Prajna Lalitha, DNB; S. R. Krishna das, DNB; Jitendra Jethani, MS; R. Manju Pillai, DNB; Alan Robin, MD; Karthik
Glaucoma,December 2008, Volume 17 (8) P. 605
Helicobacter pylori IgG Antibodies in Aqueous Humor and Serum of Subjects with Primary Open Angle and Pseudo-exfoliation Glaucoma in a South Indian Population.
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| Visitors & Volunteers
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- A team from Islamia Eye Hospital, Bangladesh supported by ORBIS International, visited Aravind-Madurai from November 30- December 2. The main objective of the visit is to understand the Aravind Model and how a secondary eye hospital (like Theni hospital) runs with outreach components successfully.
- Professor AK Azad Khan, President of Bangladesh Diabetes Association and chief organiser of the Diabetes Health Care delivery and primary prevention in Bangladesh visited Aravind Eye Care System on December 9. The purpose of his visit is to get an overview about Aravind Model and Diabetic Retinopathy Programme and he made a short presentation on the activities of Bangladesh Diabetes Association (DAB) and BIRDEM Hospital.
- A Team from Stanford Business School visited Aravind-Madurai on December 20 to get an overview of Aravind.
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| Case Study |
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SURGERY FOR BLURRED VISION? A PERPLEXED PATIENT’S QUESTION
The patient had come to Aravind Eye Hospital to have eye check up for distant blurred vision. When informed that he had to undergo surgery for Cataract and Glaucoma, the perplexed patient asked why surgery for blurred Vision? The retired Head Master of a school was not till then aware of glaucoma!
Mr. Raghuveeran (not his real name) of Villupuram district came to Aravind Eye Hospital accompanied by his brother. After all examinations, doctor informed him that he should go to the glaucoma clinic as he was afflicted with glaucoma. The chief of the clinic examined him and confirmed the earlier diagnosis. As the patient had both cataract and glaucoma, the doctor advised a combined surgery.
When Mr. Raghuveeran was taken to counselling, he appeared totally preplexed. I have come here to get treatment for my blurred distant vision. But doctor says some other things! - he told the counsellor.
The counsellor explained that he is having blurred distant vision due to cataract which should be removed. And he is also having glaucoma that occurs in people above the age of 40. This disease will have no initial symptoms. But the side vision will begin to decrease and ultimately may result in total blindness. Since his glaucoma had reached a stage in which surgery had to be performed to preserve the existing vision, the doctor has advised combined surgery, the counsellor said.
Convinced by the explanation of the counsellor, Mr. Raghuveeran agreed for the operation. When his eyes were examined after surgery, his vision had improved to the extent of 6/9. He looked immensely happy. At the time of discharge, the retired Head - Master thanked the doctor and other staff and said till now I was not aware of a disease called glaucoma and the importance of getting treatment for the same.
He brought his two visually impaired friends with him when he visited the hospital for a followup examination. The friends were found to have cataract and operated upon in the free section.
One lighted candle helped to light two other candles.
Source: K. Murugeswari
Script: K.V.S. Lakshmanan. |
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| Aravind Eye Hospitals Monthly Patient Statistics |
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DECEMBER 2008 |
Hospitals |
Madurai |
Theni |
Tirunelveli |
Coimbatore |
Puducherry |
|
Total |
| HOSPITAL OUT-PATIENT VISITS |
| Paying (New & Review) |
38,114 |
6,223 |
17,255 |
25,578 |
15,470 |
16,964 |
119,604 |
| Free (Direct walk-in) |
10,725 |
1,722 |
4,903 |
8,083 |
4,494 |
- |
29,927 |
| OUTREACH OUT PATIENTS |
| Regular Eye Camps |
9,482 |
2,405 |
3,392 |
5,498 |
3,664 |
10,688 |
35,129 |
| Lifeline Express Camp |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Diabetic Retinopathy camps |
1,053 |
225 |
818 |
2,142 |
- |
- |
4,238 |
| Refraction Camps |
- |
127 |
173 |
226 |
- |
1,546 |
2,072 |
| School Screening |
8,667 |
417 |
- |
3,268 |
4,340 |
923 |
17,615 |
| Vision Centres |
3,484 |
3,320 |
2,436 |
1,339 |
1,304 |
- |
11,883 |
| Community Eye Clinics |
3,016 |
1,240 |
2,072 |
2,338 |
- |
- |
8,666 |
| Total OP Examinations |
74,541 |
15,679 |
31,049 |
48,472 |
29,272 |
30,121 |
229,134 |
| SURGERIES |
| Paying |
4,835 |
387 |
1,538 |
2,901 |
1,249 |
1,136 |
12,043 |
| Lifeline Express Camp |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Free (including the subsidized camp surgeries) |
1,591 |
173 |
635 |
1,674 |
493 |
- |
4,566 |
| Camp |
2,087 |
187 |
814 |
1,577 |
709 |
3,340 |
8,714 |
| Total Surgeries |
8,513 |
744 |
2,987 |
6,152 |
2,451 |
4,476 |
25,323 |
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