112 People Pledge Eye Donation as 41st Eye Donation Fortnight Begins in Ranchi
Ranchi, August 25, 2026: The 41st National Eye Donation Fortnight was inaugurated at Sadar Hospital, Ranchi, on Tuesday. Campaign Director, National Health Mission, Jharkhand, Shashi Prakash Jha, inaugurated the programme. The fortnight will be observed from August 25 to September 8, 2026.
During the fortnight, various awareness activities will be organised to educate the public about the importance of eye donation, dispel misconceptions and encourage more people to pledge their eyes after death.
An awareness rally was also taken out from Sadar Hospital, Ranchi, as part of the Eye Donation Fortnight. The rally was organised under the leadership of Ranchi Civil Surgeon Dr. Amarendra Prasad, with participation from ANM school students, medical officers and health workers. Through the rally, people were informed about the importance of eye donation after death and urged to come forward for this noble cause.
Campaign Director Shashi Prakash Jha said that eye donation is not merely a donation but a noble gift to humanity. Eyes donated after death can help bring light into the lives of people in need. He appealed to people to pledge their eyes and inform their family members about their wishes in advance.
State Nodal Officer for Blindness Control Dr. Pankaj Kumar said that corneal blindness can be treated in certain cases through corneal transplantation. Availability of donated corneas is therefore extremely important.
Dr. Prabhat Kumar said that there is still a lack of awareness about eye donation among people. He stressed the need to take the message of eye donation to villages and panchayat levels and urged everyone to understand its importance and come forward for this noble cause.
Director-in-Chief, Health Services, Dr. Siddharth Sanyal, said that the National Eye Donation Fortnight has been organised since 1985. Its objective is to increase awareness about eye donation and encourage greater public participation.
Civil Surgeon Dr. Amarendra Prasad said that a person can express their wish to donate their eyes during their lifetime, while the actual retrieval process takes place after death as per prescribed medical and legal procedures. Therefore, informing family members in advance is important.
During the programme, 112 people submitted pledge forms for eye donation, expressing their commitment to the noble cause. Medical officers, health workers and students were also present.
“Donate your eyes and bring light to someone’s life.”
