Indian docs head to Ghana for free cataract surgery camp

Chennai, Mar 20 (UNI) A team of Indian doctors headed by city's leading opthalmagist, Dr N V Arulmozhi Varman with leading eye surgeons and paramedics from a private hospital in Erode left for Ghana in South Africa to perform free cataract surgeries there.

The free cataract surgery camp for the people Ghana was being organised by the Rotary Club of Madras in association with the Ghana Health Ministry and Rotary Club of Accra-West.

The doctors would perform cataract surgeries on over 900 patients in a span of 14 days, according to Rotary Club of Madras Past President M C Shanker.

He said the camp was being conducted for the third successful year in Ghana. Last year about 800 patients were treated.

Rotary Club of Madras President Ravi Katari said project cost between Rs 32 lakh and Rs 35 lakh of which Rotary Club of Madras Charitable Trust would fund Rs five lakh.

Speaking at the send-off function on sunday, State Health Secretary V K Subburaj said Tamil Nadu topped other states in the number of successful cataract surgeries performed.

The prevalence rate was 8 per 1000 here compared to 14 per 1,000 or more in other states.

He said cataract was cent per cent preventable and only through extensive campaign and screening, could it be eradicated like polio.

In Tamil Nadu, over 4.8 lakh cataract surgeries were done in a year.

Of this, three lakh surgeries were performed in government hospitals in association with non-governmental organisations.

UNI