Doctors, politicians, campaigners and school and college students joined a rally here to sensitise people about the significance of eye donation.
The rally was held by voluntary organisation 'Friends Helping Club' in collaboration with the eye department of MKCG Medical College and Hospital here as part of the Eye Donation Fortnight from August 25 to September 8.
Holding placards, the participants appealed to the people to come forward to pledge their eyes and explained the significance of the eye donation.
Berhampur Development Authority Chairman Subash Moharana and head of eye department, MKCG, B Nageswara Subudhi flagged off the rally which went round the city.
The ophthalmology department of MKCG also held a meeting on creating awareness on eye donation on Thursday at the medical college.
Director of FHC, J Suresh said 700 people have given their consent to donate their eyes in Ganjam.
Among them, 70 people have registered their names with the MKCG eye department.
Subudhi said 380 corneas, the highest in the state have been collected in the last 10 years by the department and utilized to provide eyesight to blind people.
Most of the corneas were collected with the help of members of the FHC. "Our aim is to convince people of the city to pledge their eyes after deadh", said Suresh.
Subudhi said the corneas are preserved in the eye bank of the MKCG after collection. Corneas have to be removed within six hours of death and the process takes only 20 to 30 minutes. "Removal of eyes dosen't disfigure the body", he said.
