CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Sunday announced a financial assistance of `3 lakh each to 23 persons who suffered infection after a cataract surgery at the Salem District Headquarters Government Hospital last month. Besides, a pension of `1,000 per month would be given to 21 persons whose vision was affected.
An official release here said that under the National Programme for Control of Blindness, around 5.5 lakh persons are undergoing cataract operation per year in Tamil Nadu and the State has been in the forefront in preventing blindness. During the current year, so far 1.96 lakh persons have undergone cataract operation and all of them have good vision. For the poor, cataract operation is being performed free of cost in all government hospitals.
At the district headquarters government hospital in Mettur, on an average, cataract operation is being performed for 928 persons. Cataract operation was performed between June 14 and 16 at Mettur hospital and a few had suffered infection in their eyes. Following this, 23 persons were given further treatment at Aravind Eye hospital at Coimbatore, Agarwal Eye Hospital in Salem and Mohan Kumaramangalam government medical college hospital in Salem.
On information, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had deputed State Ministers K Palanisamy, SP Velumani and C Vijaya Baskar to meet the affected persons and ensure quality treatment to them. After treatment, vision was restored to two persons while infection has been brought under control for 17 more persons. Treatment is being continued for four persons since the infection is yet to be contained. However, the ophthalmological experts are of the view that only after three months, it could be ascertained whether vision could be restored for the affected persons.