
Eye bank of AIIMS-Patna receives 1st cornea donation
The head of the department of ophthalmology and in charge of the AIIMS-P eye bank Dr Amit Raj told this newspaper on Saturday that the first cornea donation to the facility was made on Friday by a 64-year-old man from Munger.
"There is a huge demand-supply gap for cornea. Earlier, we used to transplant cornea retrieved at PMCH and hardly eight cornea transplants could be performed in the last two years. Since there is a long waiting list, we will now contact the prospective corneal blind patients and plan them for transplants as per the availability of cornea," Raj said.
He said the AIIMS-P got approval from the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) Bihar on April 30 under the Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation Act for eye donation. Explaining further, Raj said, "There are three types – cornea transplant centre (CTC), eye donation centre and eye bank. Earlier, we had approval for CTC only. Now, we can retrieve, process and transplant cornea."
The eye bank at AIIMS-P has been established in collaboration with LVPEI-Hyderabad.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Kiev: Scholarships You Can Apply For (Start Now)
College Scholarship | Google Search
Search Now
Undo
The cornea can be preserved for 10 to 14 days but should be transplanted 10 days after donation.
AIIMS-P executive director Dr Saurabh Vaneya congratulated the entire eye bank team for the launch of this service. "This will prove to be a boon for the corneal blind people of the region," he said.
AIIMS-P medical superintendent Dr Anup Kumar presented a certificate of appreciation to the family of the eye donor for showing generosity and life changing contribution towards humanity.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Dog bite cases rise, govt prepares rabies elimination plan
1 2 Guwahati: Dog bite cases in Assam have surged significantly — from 90,000 in 2023 to 1.5 lakh in 2024 — according to sources in the state health department. The spike comes amid inadequate coverage of anti-rabies vaccination for dogs and limited infrastructure for animal birth control (ABC) surgeries. In response to the escalating situation, the state govt has prepared the State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination 2030, which outlines the roles and responsibilities of the departments concerned. Health officials said the rise in reported cases is partly due to increased public awareness and improved hospital reporting. "People are now more proactive in seeking treatment at govt hospitals, where vaccines are available at lower costs," the source said. Stray dogs have become a nationwide concern, following the Supreme Court's ruling on street dogs in Delhi. Sources said approximately 50% of dog bite cases stem from street dogs, with the remaining half involving domesticated pets. Low vaccination rates among indigenous breeds in rural areas and street dogs in urban zones remain a major challenge. "An estimated 80% of domesticated dogs, especially the improved dog breeds, in urban areas are vaccinated," the source added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Readers says this maybe the best Cable TV Communications Search Now Undo Veterinary department sources estimate the state's stray dog population at just over 2 lakh, while pet dogs number around 4 lakh. In Guwahati, official data on street dogs is unavailable. However, over the past three months, more than 5,000 dogs have been vaccinated in the area under GMC by Just Be Friendly (JBF), a registered animal welfare organisation, in collaboration with UK-based group Mission Rabies and supported by the GMC. In response to complaints, JBF and GMC have also conducted ABC surgeries in recent months. "Several rabies-positive cases in dogs have been reported in Guwahati and its outskirts. ABC surgeries and anti-rabies vaccinations must be scaled up urgently," said Dr Sashanka Sekhar Dutta, managing trustee of JBF. While anti-rabies immunoglobulins and anti-rabies vaccines (ARVs) are available in medical college hospitals, district hospitals, sub-divisional civil hospitals, model hospitals, first referral units and community health centres, ARVs are also available at primary health centres Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
GMCH infant death probe focuses on staff negligence
1 2 Guwahati: The Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) is under intense scrutiny as a state-appointed committee delves into the tragic death of a four-day-old infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The investigation, launched on Monday, aims to uncover the truth behind the incident that has rocked Assam's largest hospital. The probe follows the heart-wrenching death of a newborn girl who fell from a cot and became entangled in medical equipment wires while receiving treatment. A nurse, who was reportedly preparing milk for the infants at the time, has been arrested on charges of negligence. However, questions remain about whether the hospital adhered to guidelines mandating the presence of adequate medical staff in the NICU. According to sources, statements from those linked to the case will be taken, and the report is expected to be submitted within a week. Reports suggest that more than 20 infants were in the NICU under the care of the accused nurse when the incident took place. One of the arrested nurse's colleagues told the media, "She also had to prepare milk and also monitor so many babies at the same time, which is not a joke." Prof. Achyut Baishya, principal of GMCH, had also confirmed that the nurse was preparing milk. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cable TV Cable TV Search Now Undo However, some hospital officials have questioned the absence of other staff members when one nurse was preparing milk, which was essential for the babies. "About three to four nurses were required in the NICU to assist her (the arrested nurse)," said another nurse. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has appealed to the public to wait until the report comes. "If someone thinks that a particular person is responsible (for the death of the infant) but govt has not taken action, he or she should inform before the three-member committee probing the case. But we cannot arrest doctors based on media reports. That's not fair," Sarma said. His statement came as some GMCH nurses pointed fingers at two doctors who were allegedly absent from the NICU during the incident. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Tailors, weavers, clerks are under construction workers' welfare board, says CAG
Bengaluru: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Wednesday pulled up Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board for irregular and unauthorised expenditure of Rs 259 crore during the first wave of Covid-19 in 2020. In a report tabled in the legislature, CAG said the board had initially proposed a preventive health training and check-up programme for five lakh registered construction workers across the state. Its first proposal in July 2020, estimated at Rs 10 crore, was rejected by the finance department, which sought more clarity. A second proposal in Dec 2020 was also blocked after the finance department demanded justification for awarding the project to three agencies directly, without following the tender process, and for seeking 4(g) exemption under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru Instead of providing the required justification, the board secretary on April 12, 2021, sent a fresh proposal to the labour department to call for a tender to empanel agencies for a year. He also sought administrative approval to implement the scheme on a pilot basis in Dharwad circle for Rs 9 crore. Soon after, the board decided to split the same work into 30 individual projects, thereby avoiding the need for cabinet approval, and proceeded to call for quotations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo The board later approved these projects post-facto in June 2022, citing exemption under Section 4(a) that was originally provided during the first and second waves of Covid-19 for supply of food and ration kits to labourers. The CAG noted, "Thus, the award of contracts from Sept 2021 to May 2022 in contravention to the act/rules resulted in irregular expenditure of Rs 258.8 crore." Responding to the audit, the govt said in Aug 2024 that the work was entrusted directly since a 4(a) exemption was accorded and that there was no contravention of rules. However, CAG rejected this defence, stating the reply was "unacceptable" as it was meant to address the Covid-19 emergency and criticised the labour department for approving work by splitting them into 30 sub-works of Rs 10 crore each despite finance department objections and without cabinet approval. The report also flagged irregularities in the registration of members. Of the board's 42.5 lakh registered workers, CAG found a significant number were not actually construction workers. A random survey of 399 applicants who registered through the Seva Sindhu portal revealed beneficiaries included tailors, clerks, weavers, and others from unrelated professions. The audit recommended that the board devise a mechanism to identify and weed out ineligible beneficiaries. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.