Another sight restored

Dharmender's world had shattered when a steel bar hit his left eye, dislocating the eye lens, at the factory he was working in. He belonged to Bihar and had migrated to Buddewal near Ludhiana in search of work where he started working and earned about USD70 per month. The only child of the family and only earning hand, was rushed to several local doctors but to no avail. Ultimately, his uncle, who rushed from Bihar, took him to PGIMER, where he was operated on 16th September at the Advance Eye Care Centre by Dr. Vaishali Gupta, under Rotary Gift of Sight project.
Dharmender is on his way to recovery. He would be able to retain 6x18 vision in his left eye with the help of spectacles, and be able to work.

Bihar needs you!

It takes more than sheer courage to venture into hazardous unchartered territories ravaged by floods. Yet Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo along with PDG Ranjit Bhatia of our District was in Bihar to personally oversee the distribution of the relief packets sent by our District.
"I was moved by their calm visages as we splashed our way through water logged roads with water for miles and miles," Rtn. Saboo recalled in his presentation to the Club this Monday.
"May be they had resigned to their fate, or was it the resilence of human spirit, or perhaps they were endowed with exceptional courage by God to accept this challenge", he said.
Rtn. Saboo informed that now the water is receding and immediate need is for medical help and paramedical staff, volunteer doctors who can travel down to this area and provide immediate medical help to the people, who have lost everything.
The fury of Kosi, he said, has washed away 866 villages and has affected over 25 lakh people whose rehabilitation would be the next big challenge. Besides medical help there would be need to rebuild some of the infrastructure, schools, provide books and stationery for the people have lost everything.
He requested that no cash or used clothes should be sent as relief, and the best way is to contribute to the "Chandigarh Rotary Club Service Trust", and the money would be sent to the District Governor, who is in constant touch with the Rotarians in Bihar, and arranging requisite relief supplies as per their needs.
As of now, our Club has decided to contribute Rs.6 lakh. Each packet containing essential clothes, blanket, medicines, costing Rs.400 each are being prepared by Rotary District 3080, and every member in the Club has decided to help sponsor at least five members that on an average constitutes a family, at a cost of mere Rs.2,000.

The Story of First Surgery

The 18-year old Sarvesh, the first beneficiary of the Gift of Sight project, had been having severe eye inflammation and had lost considerable vision in her right eye.
When she was brought to PGI's Advance Eye Care Centre, Dr. Vaishali Gupta examined her and found that she was suffering from Cysticercosis - a very common parasitic infestation of the central nervous system worldwide. Humans develop cysticercosis when they ingest eggs or larvae of the tapeworm Taenia solium, which are usually found in fecally-contaminated water and undercooked pork.
The parasite had travelled to her eye and had infested the retina leading to loss of her vision. If left untreated she would have turned completely blind, the doctor said.
Dr Vaishali operated on her, removed the parasite, and repaired her retina, restoring her eye sight to 50% level, and there would be no further deterioration at least.
Our congratulations to the team of surgeons at Advance Eye Care Centre at PGI.