Even after re-surgery K’handi patients lose hope of vision

The Pioneer, Dec 2, 2010
BIKASH KHEMKA | BHAWANIPATNA

Even after the second-time cataract operation of the infected patients of Kalahandi done by the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) at Bhubaneswar, it all seems that the 16 patients are losing hope of recovering vision and the patients have threatened to commit suicide if ` 5 lakh compensation is not given to each of them.

As per reports, 1,210 patients were first time operated free of cost by Sambalpur-based NGO Grace Vision at Dharmagarh hospital last month.

Around 25 patients had felt pain and congestion in their eyes in the post-operation days after reaching home which was later detected as being infected when they turned up again to the hospital for check up.

They were all sent to the LVPEI on November 23 by the district administration and re-operated on November 25.

After five days, the 16 patients were sent back to the headquarters hospital here where the doctors have reportedly advised them to come on December 6 again for further check up while the patients were reportedly not assured of recovering their vision.

A re-operated patient KC Panda, of Haldi village under Dharmagarh sub-division, told The Pioneer that, even after the re-operation, he was unable to recover his vision and would commit suicide if justice was denied.

Tarpan Bihar, of Khairpadar under the same sub-division, also vented the same and threatened to commit suicide if `5 lakh compensation was not given to him after losing one of his eyes.

After reaching here on Tuesday, the re-operated patients pleaded with Collector Roopa Mishra on Wednesday and the Collector had a patient audience to them all for an hour.

Talking to the media, Collector Mishra said, initially 15 major cases and 10 minor cases were sent to Bhubaneswar where 14 were operated in the first phase and two were operated in the second phase and the discharge report by the LVPEI is with the administration where no loss of eyes have been reported so far and all of them will be again sent to Bhubaneswar for further check-ups phase wise.

Mishra further said that, till now 721 patients have been screened by the doctors in Kalahandi out of the 1,210 patients, where four complicated cases were found and all the patients will be taken care of properly.