BANGALORE: Traffic policemen in Bangalore can now offer no excuse for poor vision. City-based eye hospital Narayana Nethralaya on Tuesday announced a year-long free eye screening and testing campaign for traffic policemen in the city.
Inaugurating the campaign ‘Police Vision — Our Mission’, chairman of Narayana Nethralaya Dr K Bhujang Shetty said, “Police people are the most overworked among all government sectors. They usually do not have the time to worry about their health. Our mission is to provide them with any assistance possible to encourage them in taking care of themselves.” He added that the hospital would also be open to visiting police stations to conduct eye screening camps if the policemen could gather at one station.
Also present for the inauguration were several police officials led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic, East) K Muthanna and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Central) Nagappa.
DCP Muthanna pledged his eyes for donation and stressed on the importance of eye donation. “It is a noble cause. Even if asking relatives, who have just lost a loved one, to donate eyes is a tough job, it must not be ignored,” he said.
Dr Shetty too wanted to create awareness on eye donation. He said, “Let your wishes about eye donation be known to your family. It will be easier for them to allow eye donation after your death since they will consider it to be your wish. Eyes must be removed within six hours of death for the donation to be useful .” The hospital pledged to renew its efforts to promote eye donation.
Encouraging similar health camps for lower ranks of the police, ACP Nagappa said that injuries sustained by constables were usually ignored and suppressed due to lack of time and funds. “This mission has promised to provide protection to the police personnel and it must be appreciated,” he said. He narrated an incident from his days as an Assistant Sub Inspector when he had to take an injured constable to Chennai for eye treatment. “Those days are behind us now. We have world class facilities here in the city now,” he said.
The police personnel wishing to receive treatment can visit any of the Nethralaya Hospitals which are located on Chord Road, Ashoknagar and Electronics City on any day during working hours. “There is no need to take an appointment. Just visit the hospital,” said Bhujang Shetty.
If required, the policemen can undergo surgery at the hospital.