To recognise the employees' collective contributions and joint efforts that have earned for Aravind prestigious international awards like the Champalimaud Vision Award and Gates Award for Global Health, Aravind Eye Care System held a function - "Sangamam"- on June 24, 2008.

The function, was attended by special invitees and chief guest Mr. Raja Govindasamy, Principal, Thyagarajar Arts college. Mr. Sanil Joseph rendered prayer song.

Dr. R. Krishnadas, CMO, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, delivered welcome address. He acknowledged the services of everyone and congratulated all employees for their contributions.

Chairman Dr. P.Namperumalsamy in his thanks giving speech said, "All we have achieved is the achievement of each one of you. It is the award for each and every one of you who is working for Aravind. Without your individual contributions this achievement would not have been possible".

Mr. Raja Govindaswamy paid compliments to the united work of Aravind employees and admired the honesty and sincerity with which they are functioning. A skit that demonstrated the kind and compassionate service of Aravind doctors and other employees received acclamation from the audience. Dr. Ramakrishnan, Assistant Administrator, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai proposed a vote of thanks. The National Anthem was played by representatives of various departments.

Sangamam '08 was celebrated at Aravind-Puducherry on June 20. Programme commenced with the prayer song, Mr. Poobalan, Manager-Administration welcomed the gathering and Dr. Venkatesh, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, explained the Genesis of Aravind through power point presentation. Dr. R.D. Ravindran, CMO gave a motivational talk and explained about the prestigious awards of AECS got during the recent time with slides showing the presentation ceremony.

Mr. Vijay Poddar, Pondicherry Ashramam and Mr. Muthuramalingam, Madhuranthagam were the special guest for the function. During their felicitation speech they shared their experience with Aravind Eye Hospital and how the team has worked to get such awards. They congratulated the entire staff for their service and emphasized that the sincere service extended to the patients is considered much more recognition than the Awards.

The video clipping of Dr.Allen Foster’s inspiring speech during the inauguration of the Aurolab was shown to the audience with Tamil translation. A few letters of feedback about Aravind’s services, received from patients were read to audience. Dr. Badrinath Talwar thanked the gathering.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System received the prestigious Gates Award for Global Health for 2008 on May 29, 2008. In a grand ceremony held at Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington D.C, U.S.A, Bill Gates Sr, presented the $ 1 million Gates Award to our chairman. Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Joint Director, AECS also attended the function. (Read More)

Dr. Narendran, Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore and his team successfully performed the first case of Ophthalmic Brachytherapy using Iodine 125 seeds manufactured by Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) on May 26, 2008. It is a case of a large choroidal melanoma. Last week they did their second case and the third case is due next week. This is the first time in India that I-125 seeds from BARC are using commercially which had earlier been used only in pilot studies.

Aravind Eye Care System Wins $1 Million Prize for Preventing and Curing Blindness in India's Poorest Communities.

SEATTLE - In recognition of its groundbreaking work to prevent debilitating blindness and provide affordable, world-class eye care to the poor, the Aravind Eye Care System, based in Tamil Nadu, India, has won the 2008 Gates Award for Global Health. The $1 million Gates Award—the world's largest prize for international health—honors extraordinary efforts to improve health in developing countries.

Founded by Dr. G. Venkataswamy in 1976, Aravind has saved millions of people in India from debilitating blindness. Cataracts account for more than half the cases of blindness in India. In the past year, Aravind provided out-patient care to approximately 2.4 million patients and performed more than 280,000 surgeries. Thanks in part to Aravind's efforts, the estimated number of blind people in India fell from 8.9 million in 1990 to 6.7 million in 2002, a decline of 25%.

William H. Gates Sr., co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will present the award on May 29 at the Global Health Council's 35th Annual International Conference in Washington, DC.

"Being blind in a rural village in the developing world leaves a person in darkness and dependence, often unable to earn a living or assist in the duties of their household," said Mr. Gates. "Aravind has given sight to millions of men, women, and children, enabling them to participate fully in the lives of their families and communities."

Since 1976, Aravind has grown from a rented house with 11 beds to a thriving network of hospitals and satellite clinics that provide eye exams and surgeries, train health care professionals, conduct research, and manufacture eye care products.

Outreach teams from Aravind hospitals coordinate with local leaders and service groups across India to organize "eye camps" that provide free exams. Since 2004, Aravind has used high-speed broadband access to link these camps directly to on-call doctors in central hospitals. The doctors can diagnose and refer patients in real time, ensuring that only those who require surgery make the journey to the hospital.

"All people have a right to sight," said Dr. Perumalsamy Namperumalsamy, chairman of Aravind. "We hope that this award will encourage others to develop creative, sustainable solutions to blindness and other global health challenges."

Aravind's innovative business model enables it to provide the same high-quality care to every patient, regardless of their ability to pay, without charitable contributions. The organization enlists local businesses to sponsor eye care hospitals, and subsidizes care for the poor through fees from paying patients and global sales of eye care products.

"Ensuring that the world's poorest people can access essential health care is an ongoing challenge in global health," said Dr. Nils Daulaire, president of the Global Health Council. "Aravind has demonstrated that there are ways to do good and commit to providing the highest quality services while utilizing the latest technologies and scientific advances."

About the Gates Award for Global Health
The Gates Award for Global Health was established by Bill and Melinda Gates in 2000 to recognize exemplary work in international health. The Global Health Council coordinates the selection process for and presentation of the Gates Award at its Annual International Conference.

Previous recipients of the Gates Award include Thailand's Population and Community Development Association for its innovative work in family planning and HIV prevention (2007); the Carter Center, for its pioneering work to fight neglected diseases (2006); the African Medical and Research Foundation, for improving health in some of Africa's poorest communities (2005); the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, for community-based health programs (2004); the Brazilian National AIDS Program, for its integrated approach to HIV prevention and treatment (2003); the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, for contributions to polio eradication (2002); and the ICDDR,B Center for Health and Population Research, for the discovery of a diarrhea therapy that has saved millions of lives (2001).

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

We are proud of our beloved chairman
Dr. P. Namperumalsamy for being conferred the "B.C. ROY AWARD" by the Medical Council of India in the Category of "Eminent Medical Teacher". The Management Committee of
Dr. B.C. Roy National Award Fund has selected Dr. P.N. for the Prestigious National Award for the year 2006.

A communication to this effect has been received from Dr. P.C. Kesavankutty Nayar, President (Acting), Medical Council of India. The award will be presented by the President of India later.

CME Programme on Paediatric Eye Diseases and Radiology in Paediatrics was conducted for Paediatricians at Aravind-Tirunelveli on April 20. A total of 45 Pediatricians from Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari Districts participated in the CME. Dr.Gopinath, Radiologist and Dr.S.Raju, Paediatrician were invitied as Chief Guest.

The CME started with welcome address by Dr.R.Ramakrishnan, CMO, Aravind-Tirunelveli, followed by Dr.Meenakshi, Paediatric Ophthalmologist who spoke on "Paediatric Eye Diseases". Dr.Ankit Avasthi spoke on "Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). Dr.R.Ramakrishnan gave a talk on "Developmental Glaucoma". Dr.Gopinath, Radiologist from Aarthi CT Scan spoke about "Paediatric Radiology" and Dr.S.Raju, Paediatrician from Krishna Nursing Home about "Torch Infections". All the participants of the CME were given laminated Snellen chart with instructions to be displayed in their Clinics. This was given with an aim to create Vision Corridor.

The Aravind Eye Care System (AECS) won one more laurel when Modern Medicare Excellence Awards 2007 were presented in Mumbai on March 14, 2008. Mr. RD. Thulasiraj, Executive Director, LAICO has been Chosen as the "ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR". The awards were introduced last year by GE Healthcare in association with Info Media India to honour individuals and institutions for their outstanding contribution healthcare. Since he was on foreign tour, Mr. Sanil Joseph, Faculty, LAICO received the award.

Kurinjippadi Primary Eye Testing Centre (Vision Centre) was inaugurated on February 6, 2008. Tamil Nadu Health Minister, Honorable. M.R.K. Panneerselvam inaugurated the Centre in the presence of Mr. Rajendra Ratnu, District Collector, Cuddalore, Dr. N. Raja, Joint Director, Health, Cuddalore, Mr. R. Shanmuga Sundaram, Chairman, Panchayat Union, Kurinjippadi and Mrs. Thaiyal Nayagi, President, Panchayat, Kurinjippadi. Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Venkatesh, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Dr. Thiruvenkata Krishnan, Medical Officer, welcomed the Guests.

Primary Eye Testing Centre at Surandai was inaugurated on 22nd Februray 2008, by Dr.R.Ramakrishnan,Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirunelveli. It is 45 Kms from Tirunelveli. The beginning was so encouraging and motivating, that out patient Department registered 108 Patients on the inaugural day.