The Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and The Eye Foundation’s planned activities during the forthcoming week, however, promise a lot more and are a cause for cheer:
• On April 13th & 14th, World Cup Champions of T20 Blind Cricket India play Australia in a two day series. This is a friendly match being played in India before Australian team takes on Sri Lanka in a bilateral series.
• On April 12th, Samarthanam and The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) present a Cultural extravaganza featuring SUNADHA, (Samarthanam’s cultural wing) at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Race Course Road. Youth & children with disabilities will take centre stage.
Together Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and The Eye Foundation believe that awareness can go a long way in preventing blindness because a good number of instances of blindness can be prevented at the community level itself by early appropriate treatment. Both the institutions have partnered and are keen on working closely with underserved communities in and around Bangalore for early identification of ophthalmological issues and community level treatment by conducting mobile eye screening and training camps.
Addressing a Press Conference at the Press Club on April 7th organized by Samarthanam and The Eye Foundation, Founder Managing Trustee and General Secretary of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India Mr. G K Mahantesh highlighted the details of the events and also the urgent need to make “The Right to Sight a reality.” He observed that India has nearly 10 million blind, and emphasized the critical importance of inclusive education, architecture, health and employment to address these lacunae.
Renowned Corneal transplantation Cataract and Refractive Surgeon and Centre Head of The Eye Foundation, Bangalore, Dr Sean da Silva, emphasized that the vast majority of the world's blind live in developing countries, where infections, malnutrition and lack of eye care give rise to a high proportion of blindness, particularly in rural populations. “Thus these countries have blindness rates that are 10-40 times greater than those of industrialized countries, where blindness is due mainly to degenerative and metabolic disorders related to ageing.” Dr da Silva also explained the activities of The Eye Foundation, a comprehensive eye care solutions provider with a signature presence across six centers in South India.
About Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled: Registered as a Trust in 1997, Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled has been working towards creating education and livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities and from underserved communities. The larger vision of our organisation is to work towards an inclusive society which provides equal opportunities for all. Our various programmes and initiatives other than education are mentioned below. More details can be found at website www.samathanam.org
About The Eye Foundation: The Eye Foundation has built a robust research and academic arm to ensure that quality eye care remains cutting edge. The academic wing of the hospital trains doctors, optometrists and paramedical staff. The intense training helps the organisation impart technical skills and ensure that the values and beliefs are carried through. The Eye Foundation also organizes a number of rural and urban slum community outreach Eye screening and treatment camps. More details can be found at the website www.theeyefoundation.com
• On April 13th & 14th, World Cup Champions of T20 Blind Cricket India play Australia in a two day series. This is a friendly match being played in India before Australian team takes on Sri Lanka in a bilateral series.
• On April 12th, Samarthanam and The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) present a Cultural extravaganza featuring SUNADHA, (Samarthanam’s cultural wing) at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Race Course Road. Youth & children with disabilities will take centre stage.
Together Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and The Eye Foundation believe that awareness can go a long way in preventing blindness because a good number of instances of blindness can be prevented at the community level itself by early appropriate treatment. Both the institutions have partnered and are keen on working closely with underserved communities in and around Bangalore for early identification of ophthalmological issues and community level treatment by conducting mobile eye screening and training camps.
Addressing a Press Conference at the Press Club on April 7th organized by Samarthanam and The Eye Foundation, Founder Managing Trustee and General Secretary of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India Mr. G K Mahantesh highlighted the details of the events and also the urgent need to make “The Right to Sight a reality.” He observed that India has nearly 10 million blind, and emphasized the critical importance of inclusive education, architecture, health and employment to address these lacunae.
Renowned Corneal transplantation Cataract and Refractive Surgeon and Centre Head of The Eye Foundation, Bangalore, Dr Sean da Silva, emphasized that the vast majority of the world's blind live in developing countries, where infections, malnutrition and lack of eye care give rise to a high proportion of blindness, particularly in rural populations. “Thus these countries have blindness rates that are 10-40 times greater than those of industrialized countries, where blindness is due mainly to degenerative and metabolic disorders related to ageing.” Dr da Silva also explained the activities of The Eye Foundation, a comprehensive eye care solutions provider with a signature presence across six centers in South India.
About Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled: Registered as a Trust in 1997, Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled has been working towards creating education and livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities and from underserved communities. The larger vision of our organisation is to work towards an inclusive society which provides equal opportunities for all. Our various programmes and initiatives other than education are mentioned below. More details can be found at website www.samathanam.org
About The Eye Foundation: The Eye Foundation has built a robust research and academic arm to ensure that quality eye care remains cutting edge. The academic wing of the hospital trains doctors, optometrists and paramedical staff. The intense training helps the organisation impart technical skills and ensure that the values and beliefs are carried through. The Eye Foundation also organizes a number of rural and urban slum community outreach Eye screening and treatment camps. More details can be found at the website www.theeyefoundation.com
