Mungantiwar bats for eye institute in GMCH, writes to Mushrif

Staff Reporter

Maharashtra’s Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, in a letter to Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, has expressed the need for Regional Institute of Ophthalmology at Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Present Head of the Department Dr Minal Vyawahare and ex-Head Dr A H Madan had requested Mungantiwar to push for the project. Mungantiwar not only promised but also wrote to Mushrif stating, “Being the second capital of Maharashtra, Nagpur is at the centre of the State. Several patients come to GMCH even from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. GMCH is one of the most-sought after hospitals for not only general health care but also for eye treatment. To upgrade the department, Regional Opthalmology Institute and well-equipped eye bank should be established. To set up the institute do try for it, and direct those concerned to do the needful.”

In such a project, the Central Government’s Health Ministry also plays a major role. In this regard, Mungantiwar also spoke to Union Health Minister for State Dr Bharati Pawar who assured to provide momentum to the project that has been pending since 2015. The Forest Minister has agreed to extend help in providing instruments including specular biomicroscope, femtolaser and microkeratome. Mungantiwar had been to GMCH flag off a rally taken out on mark start of the eye donation fortnight awareness month and 38th Eye Donation Fortnight. Dean of GMCH Dr Raj Gajbhiye, Superintendent Dr Sharad Kuchewar and others also were present. The idea of institute was basically initiated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari under the national programme for control of blindness. GMCH has sent a proposal in this regard to the State.

Gadkari had a plan to set up a regional eye institute on the lines of R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at AIIMS in New Delhi. This institute will bring the state-of-the-art eye care to Vidarbha. With this institute, GMCH would have complete eye treatment under one roof. It will have superspecialties in diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. It has provision of an eye bank, a neuro-ophthalmology, contact lens department, oculoplasty, retinal diseases department and all eye related surgeries. Patients suffering from Type II diabetes often develop ophthalmic problems. They all will get respite at this institute. About 600 students including NCC staff, PG students, nursing and office staff, interns and MBBS students and optometrist participated in the rally. A street play and speeches also were held to create awareness among the masses. MBBS students participated in the poster-making competition also organised to mark the occasion. Faculty of ophthalmology department Dr Kavita Dhabarde, Dr Nilesh Gaddewar, Dr Piyush Madan, Dr Richa Dharap, Dr Sarang Giratkar, Dr Eshan Wajukar, Dr Pradeep Tekade, along with senior and junior residents, optometry students worked hard for the success of the event.