President Presents Padma Shree Award to Dr. P.N
Dr. Abdul Kalam, President of India, presented the Padma Shree Award to Dr. P.Namperumalsamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System in Delhi on March 23, 2007.
      The award presentation function was held in Rashtrapathi Bhavan at a glittering ceremony attended by distinguished and elite audience of Central Ministers including the Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, M.P.s and special invitees.

Aravind wins Modern Medicare Excellence Inaugural Award
Infomedia India, Modern Medicare and GE Healthcare in association with Association of Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCHAM) have recognized the contribution of Aravind to society by presenting their Modern Medicare Excellence inaugural Award under the Special Jury Award category for Institutions.
      Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Madurai received the award on behalf of the Chairman Dr. P. Namperumalsamy. The award was presented at a function in Bangalore and was attended by about 200 leaders of the Indian health industry, many of whom were also contenders for the several category of awards announced for the year 2006 by Info media and GE Healthcare.
      It is noteworthy that Modern Medicare, the No.1 magazine in the world of healthcare and technology acknowledges the phenomenal work and contribution of the individuals/institutions involved in superior healthcare delivery services, through the MODERN MEDICARE EXCELLENCE AWARDS-2006. The Awards is an initiative by the publication to commemorate extraordinary work across the various quarters of the healthcare industry. While it celebrates superior healthcare, it also aims to reach out to the core of the healthcare delivery system and thereby, motivate the medical fraternity to continue to perform for excellence.
      Many top institutions in the country were contenders for this recognition. It speaks highly of Aravind’s contribution to the cause of combating needless blindness in the society which has undoubtedly brought this coveted recognition.

Graduation Day
The “Graduation Day” was celebrated for the tiny tots of Sri Janakiamma Child Care Centre at Aravind Eye Hospitals. In Aravind- Tirunelveli, and Puducherry the Graduation Day was celebrated on March 23. In Aravind-Madurai it was celebrated on March 29. The Kids exposed their talents through dancing and singing nursery rhymes. During the celebration “Ready to School” certificate was distributed to each Kid in the Crèche.

Seva Partner and Staff Retreat Overview
Aravind-Puducherry, March 3-6
Seva Partner and Staff Retreat Overview was conducted at Aravind-Puducherry from March 3-6. Mr. R.D. Thulasiraj, Executive Director-LAICO, Dr. R.D. Ravindran C.M.O Aravind-Puducherry, Mr. Keerti Bhusan Pradhan, Senior Faculty, LAICO attended the Programme. Mr. S P Venkatesh, Faculty Associate, and Mr. Vinoth from LAICO Coordinated the Programme. The objective of the Programme was to help develop Eye care programmes in Cambodia and Dartsendo-Tibet, China. Consultants worked with SEVA staff members from USA and country offices along with the partner organizations from respective countries to conceptualize and develop eye care programmes.
      This retreat highlighted the values and mission that direct the work, focus on practical goals to reduce avoidable blindness, engage in a dynamic, problem-solving mode, draw from “positive and negative” experience of previous programs, adapt and build new strategies to achieve the goals of sustainable, quality, community-oriented eye health.

Feed Back from the Participants:
The retreat group gives heartfelt thanks to Aravind for providing a loving and supportive setting. Visits to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville, walks along the sea, and the attentive care provided by hospital and guesthouse hosts were nurturing for us all.

Varilux Academy Asia Pacific (VAPP)
Aravind-Puducherry, March 4
An Education Programme was conducted by Varilux Acadamy Asia Pacific (VAAP) in association with Essilor India Pvt., Ltd. The main purpose of the training Programme was to train the optical and sales Technicians.
     This Programme improves theoretical, practical and problem solving Knowledge of progressive lens and Refraction staff of Puducherry. The patients get more benefited by quality improvements in service and using most advance lens for the treatment. This Education Programme was organized and conducted by Mr. Selvakumar, Faculty, Aravind School of Optometry and Mr. S. Krishna, Varilux consultant of Essilor India Pvt., Ltd.

Madurai, March 17
A meeting of the Indian Advisory Council on Curriculam for Emerging Phaco Training Programme was held at Taj Garden Retreat on March 17. The main objective of the Programme was to standardize the curriculum for the short term Phaco training program in order to impart adequate knowledge and skill for Phacoemulsification surgery. More specifically to finesse the surgeons, skills in pre op screening, phacoemulsification technique, post op evaluation, sterilization techniques, and Phaco machine management while ensuring a high standard of patient care.
      A Total of 12 different hospitals from India participated in the Programme which was chaired by Dr. Abhay Vasavada and sponsored by Alcon, India. Dr. G. Natchiar, Dr. Aravind, Dr.Haripriya Aravind, Dr.Ramakrishnan, Dr.Anand Dev, Dr.Kavitha Vadi, Dr.Kavitha Yuvarajan, Dr. Padma, Dr.Thirumalai Kumar, Dr.Badirinath Talwar, and Mrs.Veni participated in the Programme.
      Other participating institutions included Illadevi Cataract and IOL Research Center, Ahmedabad, Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital, Mumbai, Laxmi Eye Institute, New Mumbai, Sri Sankara Deva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Disha Eye Hospital,Kolkatta, Venu Eye Institute and Research Center, New Delhi, Dr.Shroff Charity Eye Hospital, Delhi, L.V Prasad Eye Institue, Hyderabad and Bhuvaneswar Eye Institute, Bhuvaneswar.

Madurai, March18
The first Recent Vision Enhancement and Advancement League meeting for all the five centers of Aravind Eye Care System and Priyamvada Birla Aravind Eye Hospital, Kolkatta was held at Hotel Taj Retreat, Madurai on March 18. The participants included eminent cataract surgeons from all the five hospitals. The meeting focused on recent advances in phacoemulsification technology and newer IOL types and designs as well as pearls for safe phacoemulsificaton in difficult situations. The meeting was sponsored by ALCON.

ICU – Exhibition
Aravind-Coimbatore, March 22-23
ICU Exhibition was conducted at Aravind-Coimbatore from March 22-23. This Exhibition was to create awareness about the available facilities of the ICU among the staff. Sr. Allees Mary, Academic Nursing Coordinator and Sr. Esther Mary, Madurai - ICU In charge attended the exhibition and handled classes for MLOPs on “Handling Emergency Patients”.

IIIrd Training Programme for the MLOP Supervisors & Tutors (II Batch)
LAICO, March 8-10
A Training Programme for the MLOP Supervisors and Tutors was conducted at LAICO. The main objective of the training Programme was
  - To make the MLOP Supervisors and Tutors learn how they can make their classes more effective and productive
  - To improve the participants focus on patient centered care.
  - To help them perform better in their roles as Supervisors & Tutors
  - To make them aware of the Newer Developments in Aravind
A total of 19 members participated in the Training Programme.

Adult Learning Principles
LAICO, March 13
A Workshop called “Adult Learning Principles” was conducted at LAICO on March 13, 2007. The Participants of this workshop were the MLOP Supervisors and Tutors, Training Team from LAICO and the HR Team. The Session was facilitated by Ms. Kathryn Hecht who was the visitor from USA. The objective of this Training Programme was to make the trainers understand how best they can teach the trainees and how they can use new ways to make their teaching better. The Training helped the participants understand the learning principles. The session also had various group activities to help the participants in understanding the theme better.

A School Teacher helps a Kerala girl student to regain vision in Aravind

When children complain that they are suffering from headache or some other ailment, some parents do not take it seriously and ignore it to the detriment of their dear ones. The worries of Priya Mary received the same treatment from her parents. However, at the intervention of her school teacher, the girl was brought to Aravind where her sight was restored after a surgery.

Priya Mary, aged 14, who belongs to Kollam got a blow on her left eye one year ago. Neither her father, a coolie worker in Kerala nor her mother evinced any concern about it. Priya found that her vision has diminished. She informed parents about her eye problem. But the parents thought that she was lying with the intention of procuring spectacles. And hence, they did not take her to an eye doctor.

Consequent to her visual impairment, Priya who was previously securing high marks got lower ranks in the school examinations. The class teacher noticed her poor performance and asked her what was the problem. On learning Priya’s plight, the teacher called in her parents and maternal uncle to the school for discussion. Even then the parents did not evince any concern about their daughter.

However, Priya’s uncle took her to a private hospital. The doctor who examined her eyes informed that her left eye had developed traumatic cataract which was responsible for poor vision. He advised surgery. But her parents and uncle expressed hesitation for the operation as it would involve much expenditure.

Later, when Aravind Eye Hospital conducted an eye camp in that area, the Teacher informed Priya’s parents who took their daughter to the camp. The camp doctor confirmed cataract and advised the parents to take her to Aravind - Tirunelveli for further examination in the Paediatric Clinic.

The next day Priya was taken to Aravind hospital and after examinations in Paediatric and Retina clinics, she was advised surgery for cataract. The operation was a success. As soon as the bandage was removed she found to her joy that she had regained clear vision.

Priya and her parents expressed thanks to Aravind, the school teacher and the sponsor’s of the eye camp. “We ignored our daughter when she told us that she was suffering from diminished vision. And her future life was about to be darkened by us. Aravind has prevented that situation to develop and restored vision to her. Our family will always remain indebted to Aravind for this help” - said the parents and returned to Kollam with Priya Mary.

Source : Anandhi, Aravind - Tirunelveli
Script   : K.V.S. Lakshmanan

MARCH 2007
	Madurai	Tirunelveli	Theni	Coimbatore	Pondy	Total
OUT PATIENT VISITS
Paying	32,371	14,529	5,067	20,625	14,193	86,785
Free - Direct	12,165	5,608	1,748	8,097	4,776	32,394
Free - Camp	12,112	6,806	2,217	8,427	6,860	36,422
TOTAL	56,648	26,943	9,032	37,149	25,829	155,601
SURGERIES
Paying	4,417	1,453	300	2,394	1,070	9,634
Free - Direct	2,278	731	206	1,805	536	5,556
Free - Camp	3,589	1,898	405	1,647	1,207	8,746
TOTAL	10,284	4,082	911	5,846	2,813	23,936
No. of Camps	37	32	10	34	29	142