MANILA, Aug. 25 (PNA) -- The Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines launched Wednesday Eye Bank campaign in efforts to raise public awareness of becoming an "eye donor."
Dr. Dominga Padilla, ophthalmologist, president and chair of the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines, entitled "A Vision to Live On", said the campaign hopes to move Filipinos to commit to a gift of eyesight for people suffering from corneal blindness.
A year-long campaign, it also aimed to pay tribute to the individuals and their families who donate their eyes or corneas to the eye bank for others to see again.
Held at the Annabel's in Quezon City, the Eye Bank, unveiled the image of late young actor AJ Perez, 17, as poster boy of the campaign. He died in a car accident this year.
The campaign was highlighted with the presence of AJ's two recipients - John Daniel de los Santos, eight years old, and Lawrence Villanueva, 27, as well as testimonies of corneal transplant recipients, including a 62-year old street sweeper.
Another cornea donor's son of veteran and death march survivor, Epitacio Despabiladeras, who died at the age of 91, made his testimonies about his father.
Padilla said benefiting from corneal transplant includes poor people, having their sight restored for free. She said the cost of corneal transplant comes from their indigent fund of P3.5 million a year.
"If the single donation of AJ Perez's served to benefit two others, then more donors could help a vast more number of Filipinos in need. This doesn't mean to say that there aren't a lot of Filipinos who've committed to donating their eyes (and perhaps other usable organs) should misfortune overtake them," Padilla said.
She said that infections from contact lenses and dirty water, measles of a malnourished child, and trauma from chemicals, surgery (such as cornea surgery) are the most common indications for corneal transplantation in the country.
Former President Fidel V. Ramos, the first to have organ donor card, signed Republic Act No. 7170 or Organ Donation Act of 1991.
Padilla started the Eye Bank as a non-stock, non-profit organization in 1995. Eye Bank had 27 donors whose cornea and eye tissue helped restore the sight of 29 people that year. (PNA)
DCT/FFC/SDT/utb
Source :
Dr. Dominga Padilla, ophthalmologist, president and chair of the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines, entitled "A Vision to Live On", said the campaign hopes to move Filipinos to commit to a gift of eyesight for people suffering from corneal blindness.
A year-long campaign, it also aimed to pay tribute to the individuals and their families who donate their eyes or corneas to the eye bank for others to see again.
Held at the Annabel's in Quezon City, the Eye Bank, unveiled the image of late young actor AJ Perez, 17, as poster boy of the campaign. He died in a car accident this year.
The campaign was highlighted with the presence of AJ's two recipients - John Daniel de los Santos, eight years old, and Lawrence Villanueva, 27, as well as testimonies of corneal transplant recipients, including a 62-year old street sweeper.
Another cornea donor's son of veteran and death march survivor, Epitacio Despabiladeras, who died at the age of 91, made his testimonies about his father.
Padilla said benefiting from corneal transplant includes poor people, having their sight restored for free. She said the cost of corneal transplant comes from their indigent fund of P3.5 million a year.
"If the single donation of AJ Perez's served to benefit two others, then more donors could help a vast more number of Filipinos in need. This doesn't mean to say that there aren't a lot of Filipinos who've committed to donating their eyes (and perhaps other usable organs) should misfortune overtake them," Padilla said.
She said that infections from contact lenses and dirty water, measles of a malnourished child, and trauma from chemicals, surgery (such as cornea surgery) are the most common indications for corneal transplantation in the country.
Former President Fidel V. Ramos, the first to have organ donor card, signed Republic Act No. 7170 or Organ Donation Act of 1991.
Padilla started the Eye Bank as a non-stock, non-profit organization in 1995. Eye Bank had 27 donors whose cornea and eye tissue helped restore the sight of 29 people that year. (PNA)
DCT/FFC/SDT/utb
Source :
Philippine News
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