2014World Optometry Day

Report

[INDIAN OPTOMETRY FEDERATION]NEW DELHI

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WOD REPORT

WOD is observed all over the world every year. IOF decided to observe WOD this year as well on 23rd March 2014. About 500 optometrist and optometry students and their associations assembled together and observed WORLD OPTOMETRY DAY at the designated protest hot-spot of the county , Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

President of IOF Mr Ajeet Bhardwaj in the opening speech addressed the gathering of Optometrist. As an introduction Secretary of IOF, Optom R.S Berwal stated that WOD is celebrated all over the world to create awareness among the public concerning the prevention of avoidable blindness. He further stated that National Program for Control of Blindness was launched by the govt with the objective to reduce the rate of blindness 14 per 1000 to 3

per 100 and the central council of Health adopted as “one of the basic human right is the right to see, we have to ensure that no citizen goes blind needlessly, or being blind does not remain so, if by reasonable deployment of skills and resources, his sight can be prevented from deteriorating ,or if already lost can be restored” but due to lack of regulating council for the profession and irresponsive attitude of NPCB this could not be achieved as yet.

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Optometry is officially recognized in many jurisdictions. Most have regulations concerning education and practice. However, Optometry as a profession is not yet regulated in India.

WOD was observed under the banner of Indian optometry federation. Among the flurry of other protestors, a peaceful protest was conducted in demand of forming an independent council of Optometry by the government of India. It was a spectacular sight to see the zeal and enthusiasm towards the profession by senior Optometrist and the students of Optometry colleges dressed up in uniformed T shirt and holding placards in their hands.

Since, IOF members has determined for the development of Eye care Profession, Education and Legislation of Optometry in India as rampant increase in blindness has been the top most challenge. Prolonged negligence from the Govt has forced IOF to take a legal help and urge the honorable court to give directive to the government to set up an independent optometry council under Ministry of Health.

IOF on behalf of Optometry fraternity of India, reaffirmed that Optometry is health care profession and needs to be regulated as an independent Primary

Eye care profession with diagnostics and therapeutics rights under an Optometry Council by parliamentary Act .At this occasion Board Members of IOF Optom.A.K Tyagi, Optom Harjeet Sing, Optom Abbas, Optom Sanjay Mishra ,Optom Gaurav Anand and several other senior Optometrist including Ms Monica Chowdary, and Optom Pawan addressed the gathered public.

While concluding the event, IOF president Optom Ajeet emphasized on the need for formation of Optometry Council of India by the parliament Act. He further stated that to keep this objective in mind all associations of optometry have united under the umbrella of IOF.

Meanwhile, In absence of Optometry council of india by parliament act, IOF and ASCO have formed a self regulatory council till the enactment of council by the parliament.

At this occasion many more renowned optometrist expressed and supported for the formation of optometry council.

In case of further delay in enactment of parliament act, IOF has decided to seek legal remedy from the honorable Supreme Court of India.

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WOD CELEBRATION REPORT FROM TAMILNADU- On the day of 23rd March 2014, Sunday,  “WALKATHON”  was organized in a grand manner at Besant Nagar Beach, Chennai at morning 6.30.All Professional Associations in Tamilnadu Like,1.     Alumni School of Optometry Association (ASOA), RIO, Chennai,2.     Tamilnadu Government Ophthalmic Assts Association (TNGOAA)3.     Optometric Association Tamil Nanbarkal (OATN)Took part under the Banner of-Indian Optometry Federation Around 400 students from  all optometry colleges in Chennai assembled.

1.     Elite School of Optometry,Chennai2.     Rajan Eye Care Hospital,Chennai3.     Vasan Eye Care Hospital,Chennai4.     MN College of Optometry,Chennai5.     Sankara College of Optometry, Pammal, Chennai6.     Dr. Agarwal Eye Institution,Chennai7.     Govt Ophthalmic Hospital, RIO, Egmore , Chennai.8.     Shri prakash College of Optometry, Chennai.

Around  7am Dr.Namitha Buvaneswari, MSDO, Superintendent, Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Egmore, Chennai  Inaugurated the “WALKATHON”  by waving the green Flag.

To create awareness to the General Public about the Optometry Profession,  Independent Council of Optometry, Regulation of Optometry  Education and  Essentials for Eye Care with Display Charts and Hand Bills, Walked 2 kms by the Optometry Professionals and Students in Beach.

Optom. K.Karthikeyan,Vice President, National Ophthalmic Association, gave information on Future of Optometry in India and role of IOF, OCI, ASCO to the Optometry Students.  Optom.Kansika, HOD, Rajan Eye care also gave some Eye care tips to General Public & Optometry Students.OATN President Optom. Sigaravelu & Secretary Optom. Kumaran honored all Organizers who are working for this successful event.TNGOAA State President Optom. Rengaraj & Joint Secretary Optom. Guhan also participated in this grand celebration.Organizing Chairman Optom. Palaniyappan, Opthom.Sirajudeen, Optom.Vivekandan, Optom.Mrs.Vivekandan, Optom.Chandrasekaran, Optom.Karthikeyan, Optom.Kumaran, Optom.Singaravelu,  Optom.Sivasangaran all organised the function in grand manner,  This function helped to bring together the Unity among the Optometry Associations in Tamilnadu.

This Organizing team have arranged good Breakfast and Issued Uniform  T-Shirt and Caps to the Participants,  Which were colorful and attracted the Public.

K. Karthikeyan, VP, NOA & Member, IOF.                                    

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World Optometry Day Celebration,Raipur, (Chhattisgarh)Celebrated World Optometry Day with an old age home. 

Free Eye examination along with free spectacle distribution was organized by us. 

Sharing the photographs below

WOD celebration at Rayhan college of Optometry – Edappal,Malappuram Dt,Kerala in association with Optometrist society Kerala. 

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WOD Celebration,Banda,UP

Shri Raja Ram Memorial Eye Hospital Society BANDA

Optometry Research & Training Institute BANDA

 Glad to share that like previous years this year also World Optometry Day was

celebrated at our institute. Screening programs and free eye campaign were held in the

rural areas . School screening programs revealed that among 100 students 40 are the

suffered of  refractive errors. Vitamin A deficiency is also found especially among the

children in the rural areas. Besides this cataract is also a common disease found in a

large amount of people.  Senior students Prakash, Himanshu, Gyanoo &

Saurabh actively carried out this school screening program under the guidance of

principal of ORTI Dr. Amrita Gupta, Optom Shikha Deep & Optom Kirti. Junior

students Mayank , Priyanka, Rahul, Kapil also supported them with high spirit.

            On 23rd  march 2014- Road show was organized by our students under the

guidance of Optom  Mr Pankaj Mishra, senior optometrist Shri RajaRam Memorial Eye

Hospital for the general awareness of the common people. The theme of this Road

show was Proud to be an Optometrist.People were made to know about the

world Optometry & Optometrist by means of various posters, Banners and slogans.

           

On this occasion Director  Mr Ashok Shivhare, also the organizing secretary of

36th AIOC  &  treasurer ( Indian optometry Association ) advised people to refer to an

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optometrist as soon as he feel of any refractive error or any kind of vision impairment. A

proper nutrition for both mother and child specially at the time of pregnancy is must to

avoid deficiency disorders.

WOD celebration Tripura

Tripura, the lush green North-Eastern state of India, went all out in the third week of March to celebrate World Optometry Day over several phases, from 23rd to 30th March. Celebratory programmes had been mapped out by the Association of Optometrist in Agartala, the state capital of Tripura. Association of Optometrist is the only self-sufficient, responsible association for the optometrist of Tripura as well as North East India.

Several Eye Check-up camps – From our camps more than 800 people were benefitted.

Eye donation awareness camps – 30 eye donation contact form was signed willingly from the general society people.

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Free distribution of 200 Spectacles and medicines among the people in need.

Screening of cataract along with the promise to operate them free of cost was made.

A scientific seminar was also organized on this occasion.

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INDIAN OPTOMETRY FEDERATION

Contact Us

Email:iof.delhi@yahoo.com

Operational Office

A 10/12 ,Vasant Vihar ,New Delhi-110057

Website-http://www.indianoptometryfederation.org

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