RAWALPINDI – President Arif Alvi on Wednesday inaugurated the country’s first-ever eye bank in garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Around 20 million people in Pakistan are blind due to various eye diseases. Out of these, 200,000 people are blind because of corneal diseases and their eyesight can be restored with Cornea transplants.
Al Shifa Trust carries out over 800 eye transplants every year but it is a matter of concern that we do not have the trend of eye donations or good facilities for preservation of cornea in Pakistan.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Alvi said that it is very encouraging that Al-Shifa has established state-of-the-art eye bank in collaboration with Ever sight Eye Bank, USA to collect corneal donations.
He underlined the need to spread public awareness so that people start donating their eyes and urge the media and the public to take this challenge.
“It is a matter of great satisfaction that Al-Shifa would establish a chain of eye banks in other cities which will go a long way in providing sight to those who need it the most,” said the President while paying glowing tributes to the founder of the trust, Lt. Gen. Jahan Dad Khan (Late), and incumbent president of the trust Lt. Gen. (r) Hamid Javaid, its dedicated staff, Ever Sight Eye Bank, USA, and its representatives Mr. Colin and Mr. Erik for serving humanity through the prevention and control of blindness.
