JORHAT, June 19 � A �memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Jeuti Eye Bank, Chandraprobha Eye Hospital, Jorhat and �Jorhat Medical College and Hospital at Jorhat yesterday under the Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme (HCRP).
Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora, principal, Jorhat Medical College and Dr Narayan Bordoloi, medical director, Jeuti Eye Bank signed the MoU. This was revealed by Dr Narayan Bordoloi at a press conference held at Chandraprobha Eye Hospital, here today.
He further said that the Hospital Corneal Retrieval Programme(HCRP) is an effective process to collect cornea from a dead person. It has various positive aspects unlike the voluntary eye donation procedure.
Addressing the media here, he informed that through HCRP the eye bank will be able to get fresh cornea just after the death of a patient. The fully equipped team from the eye bank can retrieve the cornea in a hygenic atmosphere.
According to the MoU, Jeuti Eye Bank will provide a grief counselor at its own cost to counsel the families as per rules and regulations.
The first private eye bank in the North East, Jeuti Eye Bank, established in 2002 has retrieved as many as 699 cornea from the donors till date. It also distributed the collected corneas to Shankardeva Netralaya, Guwahati, Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, Chandraprobha Eye Hospital and others.
Dr Bordoloi further informed that Jeuti Eye Bank is a non profit making organisation. The eye bank has been offering service by the financial assistance from the government and its own fund. The Jeuti Eye Bank is run by a trust of nine members. An advisory body comprising of six members monitors its functioning.
Talking about the awareness programmes on eye donation carried out by the eye bank Dr Bordoloi said that the attempts made among the school students is much more effective than any other group of people. The students are the best medium to disseminate the message of eye donation. �We conducted awareness programme in almost every schools in Jorhat district�, he added.
The eye donation centres (EDC) of Tinisukia, Golaghat and Sivasagar are affiliated to the Jeuti Eye Bank.
�The State Bank of India is going to provide a new van to the Jeuti Eye Bank within a short span of time�, Dr Bordoloi added.
