National Eye Donation Week will be observed both in the country and around the world starting from Friday. As a part of this initiative, an awareness camp was organized at MB Hospital with the aim of educating the public about the Eye Outpatient Department (OPD) services. During this camp, essential information regarding eye donation was given. However, what raises concerns is the unfortunate fact that the specular microscope machine, which is crucially linked to eye donation at MB Hospital, has remained untouched for the past 7 months. This machine, designed for assessing the quality of corneas and ensuring their safe storage after donation, has unfortunately not been in use.

Following the approval of eye transplants in Udaipur, subsequent to Jaipur in the state, the necessary machinery, including this particular machine, was acquired for this purpose. However, it is disheartening to note that the machine remains unused, retaining the same condition as when it was initially acquired. Dr. Ashok Bairwa, the Head of the Eye Department, has highlighted that all the essential equipment and technical staff are already in place; only a few formalities need to be addressed. He has assured that the machine will provide its service shortly.

The momentum of organ donation, which was impeded by the effects of the Corona pandemic, has not fully regained its momentum. Over the past 7 months, merely 18 individuals have stepped forward for the noble cause of eye donation. This number stands in stark contrast to the pre-Covid era, when it was twice as high. At the central level, the health department has implemented several alterations to promote eye donation. One of these modifications includes extending the timeframe for eye donation to 18 hours following a person's demise, an increase from the previous window of 6 to 8 hours.