Lions club to introduce Fundus camera to treat Diabetic retinopathy

Kolkata, May 22 (UNI) The Calcutta Lions Club will be raising about 200 million dollars by 2008 to carry out a massive campaign and diversify its super speciality eyecare hospitals.

Talking to newsmen on the golden jubilee celebration here today, Calcutta Lions Netra Niketan chairman K N Gupta said about 80 million dollars had been raised so far with fundings from China, Korea and Japan.

The club, established in the state in 1957, would introduce for the first time a 'Fundus' camera to treat Diabetic retinopathy, an eye disorder among the severe diabetic patients, he said.

He further said the Rs 50 lakh hi-tech equipment is being brought from Germany. It would treat patients without any complications.

''The camera can operate the eye even without maintaining the insulin and blood pressure level of the diabetic pateints,'' Mr Gupta added.

He also said they were urging the other hospitals in the city to make Netra Niketan, the hospital having the Fundus camera, a referral hospital.

''We have the capacity to treat 15000 pateints but only 8000 come here. We want to conduct some more campaigns to make the people aware regarding the quality and free treatment in our hospital,'' the chairman avered.

A special cover would also be introduced by state Post Master General Manojit Kumar on May 27 to mark the 50th anniversary celebration, Mr Gupta added.

''We also expect an ISO 9001 accreditation within four months,'' president K N Jain said adding that the club, though concentrates mainly on treatment of eye ailments, would also enter water supply projects in the near future.

UNI