Mr Josy, who has been trained for eye collection was felicitated on the occasion. Various organisations who were organising partners for the BlindWalk program organised by Project Vision in 2017 were also felicitated on the occasion.

Minister inaugurating the eye collection centre

Message by the Minister at the function

Mr Josy being felicitated by the Minister

Visually challenged Fathima Anshi being felicitated by the Minister

Eyes have to be collected within six hours of death. They can be collected from hospital or from the houses. There are no limitations for eye donations. People of all ages, those using spectacles, and those with diseases can also donate their eyes. The consent of the surviving family is the only requirement. This is a free donation that involves no money.

Only corneas will be collected from the eyes and not the whole eye. Thus there wont be any disfigurement for the person after eye donation. This is a small operation that will take only about 15 minutes. Eyes can also be collected from mortuary.

India has the largest number of blind persons in the world with 15 million of them. 20% of them could get sight through eye donations. But there were only 918 persons who donated eyes in Kerala in 2017.

Twenty three nursing students of the Fathima Matha Nursing School were given the graduation certificates at the program.

Fr Thomas Therakam, Patron of Project Vision, wayanad Unit gave the welcome address and Fr Sebastian Adichilath, the Director of Fathima Hospital proposed the vote of thanks.