Mangaluru: Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath flagged off a large eye donation awareness rally organised by Prasad Netralaya Super Speciality Eye Hospital in association with the Dakshina Kannada District Health and Family Welfare Department on September 5.
The rally was organised as part of the National Eye Donation Fortnight and aimed to encourage greater public awareness about eye donation and its importance in restoring vision to people with corneal blindness.
Kamath flagged off the rally by waving a blue flag and later joined the participants, walking alongside students and members of the public.
MLA urges people to pledge their eyes
Speaking after flagging off the rally, Kamath stressed the need for sustained public awareness about eye donation and urged people to come forward and participate in the humanitarian initiative.
The MLA said he had already pledged to donate his eyes and had kept his eye donation certificate at home in a location where his family members could easily see it.
He explained that keeping the certificate in a visible place would remind his family about his pledge and help ensure that his wishes are followed after his death.
Kamath also appealed to young people and members of the public to take the pledge and contribute to the cause.
Rally begins at Pumpwell
The awareness rally began at Pumpwell and proceeded towards Prasad Netralaya Super Speciality Eye Hospital at Ujjodi.
More than 800 students from various colleges across Dakshina Kannada district participated in the rally along with members of the public. Participants carried out the awareness campaign enthusiastically and raised slogans highlighting the importance of eye donation.
Kamath personally took part in the rally and encouraged students and other participants to spread the message among their families and communities.
The MLA appreciated Prasad Netralaya for taking up the initiative with social commitment. He also praised the active involvement of students, whose participation helped extend the awareness campaign to a wider section of society.
More than 50 students pledge eye donation
Following the rally, more than 50 students voluntarily pledged to donate their eyes at the Eye Bank of Prasad Netralaya.
The pledges formed an important part of the awareness programme, translating the campaign’s message into a direct commitment by young participants.
Organisers hope that such initiatives will encourage more people to understand the process and significance of eye donation and discuss their wishes with family members in advance.
Creating awareness within families is particularly important because relatives play a crucial role in facilitating the donation process after a person’s death.
Poster-making competition organised
Prasad Netralaya also conducted a poster-making competition as part of the programme to engage students in spreading awareness about eye donation.
Around 50 students participated in the competition and used their creative skills to communicate the importance of donating eyes.
Prizes were awarded to the winners, while appreciation certificates were presented to all institutions that participated in the awareness rally.
The competition provided another platform for students to understand and communicate the social value of eye donation.
Healthcare leaders attend programme
Prasad Netralaya Group of Institutions medical director and chairman and member of the Karnataka Vision Policy Committee, Government of Karnataka, Dr Krishna Prasad K, attended the programme.
Managing director Rashmi Krishna Prasad and hospital directors Dr Vikram Jain, Dr Harish Shetty and Dr Jacob Chacko were also present.
The participation of healthcare professionals and educational institutions added to the reach of the awareness campaign, which sought to make eye donation a more widely discussed public health and humanitarian issue.
Focus on creating lasting awareness
The rally and related activities were aimed not merely at securing pledges but also at encouraging conversations about eye donation among students, families and the wider community.
The participation of more than 800 students from across Dakshina Kannada gave the campaign a significant public presence. The subsequent pledges by students further demonstrated the response generated by the awareness programme.
With the National Eye Donation Fortnight providing a platform for such initiatives, organisers are seeking to encourage more people to consider eye donation and communicate their decision to their families.
The programme concluded with recognition for participating institutions and students, while the eye donation pledges and awareness activities added momentum to the campaign to promote the cause across the district.