On the 2nd of October 2023, the Ophthalmology Department at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, organized the Gandhi Jayanti Eye Camp in the premises of Kasturba Hospital. Every year the Department of Ophthalmology conducts the annual one-day free eye camp to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.
This year, over a thousand patients from the surrounding villages and towns of Wardha district, as well as distant places like Adilabad, Rajura, Sirpur, Bhandara, Jalgaon, Warangal, Motala, Chandrapur, Korpana, Kalamb, Bhadrawati, Nagpur, Warora, Anandwan, Buldhana, Pandharkawada, Chandur Railway, Ballarshah, Amravati, Kaghaz Nagar, Yavatmal, and Baitul, availed the services provided in the camp.
The eye camp took place in the Eye OPD of the hospital, where a total of 1004 patients were registered and examined for ocular disorders. The hospital offered free consultations to all patients. Dr. Smita Singh, Director Professor & Head of Ophthalmology at MGIMS, informed, “Close to 450 patients have been appointed for eye surgeries in the next 30 days. The treatments will mainly include Cataracts with modern IOL implantation, Glaucoma surgery, Pterygium, Sac, and lid surgeries of various types. Patients undergoing Cataract surgeries are not charged for the surgery, medicines, lenses, or glasses.” “Our team is committed to making a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals through accessible and compassionate eye care services”, Dr Smita Singh added.
Dr. AK Shukla, Dean of MGIMS and Director Professor of Ophthalmology at MGIMS, expressed, “The Gandhi Jayanti Camp is a testament to our commitment to eradicating avoidable blindness in and around Wardha. The growing number of patients speaks volumes about our unwavering dedication to this cause. We firmly believe that no one should lose their sight due to economic constraints.,”
"Doctors at Kasturba Hospital are not just healing eyes but restoring our dreams, and for that, we shall always be grateful," said an elderly patient with tears of gratitude in her eyes, awaiting her cataract surgery at the Gandhi Jayanti Eye Camp.