Aravind places a strong emphasis on keeping its employees engaged not only in their routine tasks but also in activities that enhance their skills and knowledge. By fostering teamwork and professional growth, the institution empowers its employees to generate fresh ideas that contribute to the on-going development of the organisation. A prime example of this is Arangam, Aravind’s annual intramural conference held recently at Aravind-Madurai. This three-day event brought together employees from across all Aravind centres, providing a platform to share best practices in their work through posters and papers. Such initiatives inspire others to impart greater efficiency in their work and encourage a spirit of innovation, further driving the institution’s progress.

Similarly, a workshop organised by the Aravind Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) on “Extracellular Vesicles: Isolation, Characterisation, and Applications” attracted faculty and research scholars from various institutions.

Members of Aravind, including doctors and governing members participated in the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) conference held in Chicago. This engagement not only highlighted Aravind’s pivotal role in eye care but also provided an opportunity to learn about the latest advancements in the field, which will be implemented in Aravind’s practices.

This edition features these highlights and much more from 15^th October 2024 to 15^th November 2024.

The month of October at Aravind is always packed with significant events, as it marks the celebration of its founder, Dr. G. Venkataswamy’s birth anniversary. Along with this year’s celebrations, several notable occasions get coincided, beginning with the Dr. G. Venkataswamy Memorial Oration Award ceremony and followed by the inauguration of a new building, among other key happenings.

This year, the Memorial Oration Award was presented to Dr. Martin Spencer, a Canadian ophthalmologist and inventor, recognising his remarkable contributions to cataract surgery, which have transformed the lives of visually impaired individuals, particularly in developing countries.

Another major highlight was the inauguration of a new building at Aravind-Coimbatore. This state-of-the-art facility, spanning 440 thousand square feet, addresses the hospital’s growing need to accommodate increasing patient flow, representing the institution’s continuous dynamic growth and dedication to fulfilling Dr. V’s mission.

Additionally, the opening of the Aranthangi Vision Centre in Madurai brings the total number of vision centres to 117, reflecting a steady expansion of services to the doorsteps, month after month.

Besides, the Auroutsav programme, held across Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, Theni, Tirupati, Tirunelveli, Salem, Chennai and Pondicherry, made the month more engaging, fostering creativity among employees and offering both a fun and team-building experience.

More detailed news about these events and others from 15th September to 15th October are featured in this edition.

Beyond the efforts of eye care hospitals, doctors, and other medical professionals, it is the public’s knowledge about eye diseases that plays a crucial role in the fight to eliminate needless blindness. To educate the public, Aravind is consistently raising awareness about eye care and related issues since its inception, highlighting its patient-centric approach. A prime example is the extensive awareness campaign during the 39th National Eye Donation Fortnight, held recently across Aravind’s major tertiary care centres, which garnered significant public attention.

In direct patient care, Aravind’s Mid-Level Ophthalmic Personnel (MLOPs) are indispensable, comprising 75% of the workforce. Their friendly and compassionate interactions with patients have been key in building trust and ensuring high levels of patient satisfaction. Aravind places great importance on training MLOP trainees to understand and practice the humanitarian values upheld by the institution. Moreover, after completing their training, Aravind organises a graduation day, during which trainees celebrate their accomplishments with memorable moments. At the recent graduation day held at Aravind Eye Hospitals in Tirunelveli, Kovilpatti, and Tuticorin, a candle-lighting ceremony, the Florence Nightingale pledge, and inspiring speeches by doctors and mentors created lasting memories for the trainees.

Aravind prioritises the mental and physical well-being of its employees by organising various welfare initiatives to foster a pleasant working environment. The innovative programmes implemented at Aravind have led to impressive outcomes, making it a top choice for employment. In this regard, Aravind-Tirunelveli conducted the “AURO REVIVE – Relax, Rejoice & Rejuvenate” programme, which encourages employees to showcase their talents and participate in extracurricular activities.

This edition covers these and many other events that took place between 15^th August and 15^th September 2024.

The opening of vision centres at different locations each month marks a significant step forward in fulfilling the mission of Dr. V, who established the first vision centre in Ambasamudram on 14^th April 2004. With the recent openings of centres in Kilpennathur and Kayathar, the total number of centres has now risen to 116.

In preparation for moving to a larger facility, once construction is completed in 2026, the Aravind Eye Hospital, Salem, conducts workshops focused on planning strategies to ensure a smooth shift.

As part of its patient care initiatives, Aravind ensures that low-vision patients with severe visual impairments have the privilege of experiencing the world more freely and carrying out their daily routines. This is achieved by providing Smart Vision Pro glasses to beneficiaries, with support from various non-profit organisations. Recently, two Smart Vision Pro Glass Distribution Programmes were held at Aravind Eye Hospitals in Tirunelveli and Coimbatore, where 83 glasses were distributed.

Beyond eye care, Aravind is also committed to community engagement through its Resident Social Responsibility programmes, which encourage philanthropic practices among residents. Recently, residents from Aravind-Madurai visited several government schools, providing educational kits and raising awareness about protecting eyesight.

News about these developments and much more occurred between 15^th July and 15^th August are featured in this edition.

Aravind remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding eye care services through various possible means. The recent inauguration of ARCORE, along with the establishment of new vision centres, and the organisation of managerial courses for international participants, highlight its ongoing contributions to the field.

The opening of ARCORE, a state-of-the-art training facility at Aravind-Chennai, marked a significant initiative to share Aravind’s extensive expertise in eye care. ARCORE offers hybrid skill enhancement courses that combine virtual and hands-on sessions, broadening the learning opportunities for participants.

Additionally, the recent inauguration of a vision centre in Harur, Dharmapuri District, brings the total number of Aravind vision centres to 114, aiming to serve the local population around Harur Taluk. Moreover, the management course conducted by LAICO attracted participants from Bangladesh, Cameroon, Nepal, and Zambia, equipping them to enhance eye care delivery in their respective regions.

News about these and much more occurred between 15th June and 15th July are featured in this edition.

Aravind continuously supports its patients on their resilient journeys, offering hope and ensuring a happy life. In addressing Retinoblastoma (RB), Aravind has established a platform called the Survivors Meet for Retinoblastoma survivors since 2017. This annual one-day event allows RB patients to connect with fellow survivors, share their recovery experiences, and spread hope. The recent Survivors Meet, held on 1st June, gathered around 200 enthusiastic survivors and their families from Tamil Nadu, and Kerala who received treatment at Aravind-Madurai. During the programme, survivors stood victoriously on stage, sharing the joy of achieving successful careers as doctors, engineers, government officers, and more. Their stories serve as an encouragement for young survivors to focus on their studies and believe in themselves.

Aravind also engages with the public to raise awareness about eye problems. Observing awareness days, such as Myopia, Retinoblastoma Awareness Week, etc., helps the community adopt preventive measures and learn how to manage these conditions.

Additionally, Continuous Medical Education (CME) programmes were held at Aravind Eye Hospitals in Salem, Coimbatore, and Pondicherry, updating ophthalmologists on clinical advancements. This on-going education ensures enhanced eye care for all.

News about these and much more occurred between 15th May and 15th June are featured in this edition.

The prestigious Padma Shri Award bestowed upon Dr. G. Natchiar, a founding member of the Aravind Eye Care System, has sparked a wave of immense joy, resonating not only with the dedicated staff across Aravind’s 135 centres, but also with the countless patients whose lives have been transformed by her exceptional care. This marks the third time an Aravind member receiving the Padma Shri, following Dr. V, and Dr. PN, a symbol of trust and affection the community has placed in the organisation. It signifies not just Aravind’s physical expansion across the country, but a deeper, intangible growth, securing a place in the hearts of people. Dr. Natchiar’s award ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 9th May 2024, receiving the honour from the Honourable President of India, Droupadi Murmu, stands as a validation that Aravind remains committed in upholding the visionary legacy of its founding father, Dr. V.

Aravind’s involvement extends far beyond clinical excellence. It actively partners with governments and non-profit organisations to conduct eye care initiatives, including campaigns and surveys. A recent example is the RAAB7 prevalence survey, conducted in the Sivaganga district. For the first time, the upgraded RAAB7 tool was being tested among the Indian population, particularly in Tamil Nadu. As of today, there is no near vision screening tool/method available for community screening. Hence, the near-vision validation study has been combined with the current RAAB7. The results showed a comparable level of agreement with the near vision tool of the Peek Acuity App against the gold standard EDTRS near vision screening. Eventually, the near-vision screening module was incorporated into the current RAAB7. This is a significant milestone in generating evidence relating to the near vision burden globally for effective planning of service delivery.

News about these and much more occurred between 15^th April and 15^th May are featured in this edition.

In pursuit of Dr. G. Venkataswamy’s visionary goal to extend eye care services to every corner of society, Vision Centres have been established across diverse locations. The very first vision centre was launched in Ambasamudram on 14th April 2004, which in now functioning in Kandamanur. The recent addition of the Thalaivasal Vision Centre in Salem marks a significant milestone, bringing the total number of Aravind’s Vision Centres to an impressive 113. Over the past two decades, Aravind Vision centres have handled 7.8 million patient visits, covering a population of more than 10 million. This growth highlights Aravind’s unwavering commitment and consistent efforts towards its noble mission.

Observing special occasions provides Aravind with a platform to engage with patients, caretakers and the public, spreading informative awareness messages through posters and models to promote eye care initiatives. In line with this approach, Aravind observed World Optometry Week, acknowledging the indispensable role optometrists play in extending and strengthening the scope of comprehensive eye care services.

News about this and much more are featured in this series.

Note: The events that occurred between 15th March and 15th April are included here.

Aravind’s commitment to patient care is exemplified by the establishment of new Vision Centres across different locations. The recent addition of the Samayanallur Vision Centre, bringing the total to 112, highlights the organisation’s expansion of service.

In addition to its focus on patient care, Aravind places a strong emphasis on employee welfare. The My life My Pride programme stands as a proof to this commitment, offering employees opportunities for personal and professional development through various extracurricular activities. The recent achievement of earning Taekwondo yellow belts by employees who completed two months of training is a proud reflection of their dedication and the organisation’s support for their growth.

International Women’s Day holds significant importance for Aravind, as it actively contributes to empowering young girls from rural backgrounds through initiatives such as Mid-Level Ophthalmic Personnel (MLOP) training, creating employment opportunities. Thus, Aravind becomes a strong backbone for them in their personal and professional growth. Moreover, Aravind is indebted to these women battalions who later become the pillars of Aravind Eye hospital where 70% of the staff are MLOPs. Their dedicated service to eradicate needless blindness is immense. Hence, the observance of International Women’s Day was a great joy, marked with special events organised across all Aravind centres, including talks, debates, and competitions, actively participated by women employees.

News about these and much more are featured in this series.

Note: The events that occurred between 15th February and 15th March are included here.

Accolades recognising the leaders implies recognition of the system they have built and nurtured over the years. Hence, the Padma Shri awards consistently conferred upon members of the Aravind family, starting from Dr. G. Venkataswamy in 1973, followed by Dr. P. Namperumalsamy in 2007, and now upon Dr. G. Natchiar in 2024, stands as a token of acknowledgement from the Government of India, honouring their individual and collective contributions to serving the community.

Dr. Natchiar, a visionary ophthalmologist and transformative leader, has made invaluable contributions by nurturing the paramedical programme and continuously monitoring and refining Aravind’s innovative model for delivering eye care services to rural communities through vision centres and outreach initiatives. Moreover, she has wholeheartedly dedicated herself to instilling and upholding the values and culture that will sustain the organisation for years to come. All such contributions to society have earned her honour.

The inauguration of a new vision centre in Komaralingam, Tiruppur District, bringing the total count to 111, signifies progressive steps towards extending much-needed eye care services to those in need. Additionally, Aravind’s non-clinical routine activities, such as symposiums, workshops, continuing professional education (CPE), and continuing medical education (CME) sessions, were held fostering fellowship among staff members, promoting knowledge exchange, and enhancing professional skills, all to serve the community.

This edition features news about these and much more.

Note: The events that happened between 15th January and 15th February are featured here.

In the midst of cold weather and heavy rain, Aravind Eye Hospital persists in carrying out its routine clinical activities, dedicated to serving the community, fostering the professional growth of its employees, and contributing to its overall progress.

With a focus on continuous professional education (CPE) programmes for staff members, several events were held across Aravind Hospitals. This included the CPE for Coordinators, Technicians, Supervisors, and Tutors of Aravind-Pondicherry, CPE for Photographers and Editors of Aravind Communication Department, and the showcasing of exceptional talents of staff through Utsav 2023 by Aurolab.

Aravind has consistently worked to cultivate an innovative culture in recent years. Hackathon 5.0 stood as the pinnacle of innovation within Aravind Eye Hospitals. Collaborative teams, comprising medical expertise from doctors and cutting-edge engineering minds from VIT and IIT Tirupati, addressed identified problem statements, transforming ideas into reality.

The active engagement of Aravind’s postgraduate residents in social responsibility initiatives contributed to the betterment of underprivileged communities. Notably, the programme “Vaanavil” serves as a platform for selling handmade products created by visually rehabilitated women in Trichy.

These stories, along with many more, are featured in this issue.

Note: The events that happened between 15th December and 15th January are featured here.

Aravind Eye Hospital extends heartfelt wishes for a flourishing and prosperous New Year – 2024, brimming with peace, love, and fulfilled hopes.

Aravind’s journey of continuous growth is marked by the growing number of vision centres, the expansion of infrastructure, and the pursuit of innovative initiatives. A recent milestone in this journey was reached with the inauguration of vision centres in Vettavalam and Kalakkad, significant additions that bring the total count to an impressive 110. The recent opening of a new hostel facility at Aurolab also signifies ongoing development. These efforts are directed towards providing the highest quality service to all.

Aravind implements impactful initiatives, including educational programmes and awareness campaigns, in its pursuit of this goal. The recently inaugurated Cataract Education Zone and the Office-Based Digital Resource Training programme at Aravind-Tirunelveli aim to benefit patients and empower them with information on crucial eye issues.

Furthermore, Aravind has proactively engaged with the community by organising various events on important days, including Myopia Awareness Week and World Prematurity Day.  This highlights Aravind’s excellence in eye care and its role in community well-being.

News about these and much more are featured in this series.

Note: The events that happened between 15^th November and 15^th December are featured here.

Aravind prioritises the commemoration of important days to create awareness. In this regard, special days, such as World Diabetes Day, Children’s Day, World Keratoconus Day, etc., were observed through diverse events, creating a positive impact on everyone’s lives.

Continuing Medical Education (CMEs) and workshops on various ophthalmology-related topics were organised across all Aravind locations, fostering continuous learning.

Aravind serves as a hub for knowledge-sharing and value impartation, hosting guests from around the world. Recently, the Jagriti Yatra team of young entrepreneurs was hosted, marking the 16th time Aravind has had the privilege of receiving them, and sharing its best practices with them. This exemplifies Aravind’s service beyond medical care, demonstrating a commitment to holistic well-being and global knowledge exchange.

News about these events, which occurred between 15^th October and 15^th November, is featured in this edition.

October is always an eventful season at Aravind, as it marks the birth anniversary of the founder, Dr. V. This year, through a series of events held across all Aravind centres, his 105th birthday was commemorated in a grand manner. Notably, the Dr. G. Venkataswamy Memorial Oration Award ceremony stood out, honouring Prof. Astrid E. Fletcher in recognition of her research contribution to eye care.
As part of the celebration, the October summit, an annual event series, featured Arangam, a platform for non-doctors, and Vision 2.0, which delved into futuristic developments in the primary healthcare centres. Additionally, a two-day workshop was held to enhance research in eye care.
Furthermore, the launch of AuroiTech, as an independent body of Aravind, introduction of a mobile app to assist patients, the inauguration of a new warehouse facility at Aurolab on Vision Day, and opening of the 108th vision centre in Viyampatti, Trichy, have contributed to making this month even more significant.

These stories and more are featured in this series.

The events that happened between 16^th September and 15^th October are highlighted in this edition.

While carrying out routine clinical activities, Aravind Eye Hospitals also prioritise awareness campaigns, Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions, and other initiatives that further enhance the overall quality of eye care services.

Notably, the 38th Eye Donation Fortnight was observed across all Aravind centres, with a particular focus on creating public awareness and dispelling misconceptions associated with eye donation. Several programmes, including the corneal retrieval campaign, awareness rallies, press meetings, and radio talks, were conducted, receiving widespread support from the public.

The expansion of the very first Aravind Eye Hospital occurred 47 years ago, and celebrating this milestone is a significant occasion for Aravind, serving as a reminder of Dr. V’s vision and mission.

The celebration of Freshers’ day for newly recruited MLOPs is a notable event that fosters a sense of companionship among newcomers and their colleagues. Aravind constantly organises such programmes, which facilitate a healthy working environment.

This series features news on these events and much more.

Note: The events covered in this series took place between 15th August and 16th September.

Aravind hosted the 29th Annual Meeting of the Indian Eye Research Group, this year. The insightful discussions and scientific sessions of the conference not only enriched Aravind’s practices but also made a notable contribution to advancing patient care on a broader scale.

Aravind doctors participated in various events at the 70th Platinum Jubilee Conference of the Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Association (TNOA) and won numerous awards and prizes. These accolades demonstrate their profound knowledge and skills in keeping up with the latest updates in the field of ophthalmology.

Aravind is also actively involved in various welfare initiatives, beyond eye care. One notable recent event was the distribution of educational kits to government schools through the Residents Social Responsibility (RSR) programme.

These remarkable stories, alongside many others, are featured in this issue.

Note: The events that happened between 15th July and 15th August are featured here.

The month of July carries immense significance for Aravind Eye Hospital as it commemorates its Mission Day on 7th July, in remembrance of its founder, the late Dr. Venkataswamy, affectionately called as Dr. V., along with the birth anniversary of G. Srinivasan, one of the founding members. The hospital has dedicated itself to the noble cause of eliminating needless blindness, upholding Dr. V.’s vision. Therefore, the Mission Day revitalises his spirit of unwavering commitment, inspiring the Aravind team to pursue the fulfilment of his noble vision.

Throughout this eventful month, various activities have been organised, including several Continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes, training initiatives, and awareness campaigns, supplementing the hospital’s routine clinical activities. These events have helped strengthen the team’s skills and knowledge while combatting the issue of needless blindness.

A fire accident that occurred at Aurolab recently, revealed the remarkable resilience of its staff members, who worked tirelessly to facilitate a swift comeback after the incident. Now, Aurolab is back in full swing, operating as usual.

This series features the highlights of these remarkable endeavours and many more.

Note: The events that happened between 15^th June and 15^th July are featured here.

Aravind Eye Hospital’s routine activities continue to be at the peak, focusing on patient care, awareness programmes and continuing medical education (CME) programmes.

Recently, an awareness programme was organised at Sivakasi Government Hospital, highlighting the crucial role of healthcare professionals in promoting eye donation.

World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week was observed in a meaningful manner at Aravind. Retinoblastoma is a rare and rapidly growing eye cancer that primarily affects infants and young children, often leading to removal of the eye. In severe cases, it can be fatal. Raising awareness about this condition is vital to protect the eyesight and lives of children. Hence, during the awareness week, Aravind Eye Hospitals organised a Survivors’ meet in Madurai and Coimbatore, focusing on educating individuals about the genetic causes of retinoblastoma, the importance of early detection, and the available treatment options.

Furthermore, during the Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2023 held in New Orleans, US, senior scientists and research students from Aravind Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) visited various laboratories, enriching their expertise and getting updated on the recent trends in eye research.

This issue features updates on these and numerous other topics.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 14^th November 2024

Aravind-Tirunelveli was recognised with the Pasumai Valaham certificate by the Tirunelveli Corporation, appreciating its efforts in preventing river pollution and conserving the environment. The certificate highlights the institution’s role as a model for sustainable environmental practices.

Chicago, 18-21 October 2024

Jaipur, 27-29 September

Dr. Preeti Mohanty, Chief, IOL & Cataract Service, & Medical Consultant, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Aravind-Tirupati
Title: Canalicular lesions in Pemphigus Vulgaris

Aravind-Tirunelveli

A. Hemachandran, Camp Organiser, Aravind-Tirunelveli, was awarded with the Best Coordinator Award by the Manambur Lions Club.

Dehradun, 25-27 October 2024

Best Physical Poster Award in Cornea + External Eye & Ocular Surface Disease session

Dr. Mevis Phonglo, Cornea Fellow, Aravind-Pondicherry
Title: Trend of Keratoconus Pre & Post COVID-19 in students in a tertiary eye care centre in South India (FP123)
Co-authors: Dr. Prashansa Yadav, Cornea Fellow, and Dr. Josephine Christy S, Chief, Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services, Aravind-Pondicherry

Best Paper Award at the Cornea-II session

Dr. Garima Rath, Cornea Fellow, Aravind-Pondicherry
Title: Factors influencing corneal haze post corneal collagen cross-linking in Keratoconus treatment (Free Paper)
Co-authors: Dr. Josephine Christy S, and Dr. Malathy M, PG Resident

Best paper of Session at the Glaucoma III Finals session

Dr. Shivam Gupta, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli
Title: Outcomes of Gonoiscopy assisted transluminal trabeculotomy in juvenile open angle glaucoma patients (Free Paper)
Co-authors: Dr. Devendra Maheshwari, Dr. Madhavi Ramanatha Pillai, and Prof. Dr. Rama Krishnan R.

Best Subject Paper Award at the Glaucoma Session

Dr. Nimrita Gyanchand Nagdev, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli
Title: Outcomes of gonioscoy assisted transluminal trabeculotomy in primary angle closure glaucoma (PAGG) (Free Paper)
Co-authors: Dr. Devendra Maheshwari, Dr. Madhavi Ramanatha Pillai, and Prof. Dr. Rama Krishnan R.

Mumbai, 4-5 October 2024

Dr. R. Kim, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Madurai, was honoured with the Global Innovator Award 2024, at the Global Digital Health summit 2024, held at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. During the occasion, he delivered a talk on, AI first healthcare: Healthcare in the age of Generative AI.

Jakarta, Indonesia, 26-28 September 2024

Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, Chief, Cornea Services, Aravind-Madurai, was honoured with the Asia Cornea Foundation Saiichi Mishima Award 2024, in recognition of his lifelong contribution and achievements in Corneal Research work performed in Asia, at the 9th Asia Cornea Society Biennial Scientific Meeting (ACS 2024), held at Jakarta, Indonesia

Pondicherry, 27-29 September 2024

Dr. Megha G, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Salem
First Prize – Video Diagnostic Category
Title: One tap for a brighter world

Dr. Shivam Gupta, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli
Best Glaucoma Pitch Innovator Award for the “Slit Lamp Gonio Holder”

Dr. Annamalai Odayappan, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Pondicherry
Winner – Dr. Sridhar B Rao Award – Free Paper
Title: Enhancing early glaucoma detection through family screening to reduce glaucoma-related blindness

Dr. Swati Upadhyaya, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Pondicherry
Runner-up – Video Management Competitive Section
Title: TTT – Touch Tear Thread the canal

Dr. Devendra Maheshwari, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli
Second Prize – Video Diagnostic Category|
Title: Anterior segment OCT: A holster for MIGS surgery

Tirupati, 13-15 September 2024

Dr. V.R. Vivekanandan, Medical Consultant, Cataract and General Ophthalmology Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli, was awarded the APOS Gopalakrishna Young Ophthalmologist Lecture & Medal at the 9th Annual Meeting of the Andhra Pradesh Ophthalmic Society (Tirupati Eyecon 2024), held at Shree Conventions, Tirupati.

Aravind-Salem, 14^th September 2024

Dr. Megha, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma, Aravind-Salem, won the Judges’ Choice Top Video at a virtual contest organised by Young Ophthalmologists Society of India (YOSI), for her video titled, Brightening lives through smartphone.

Pondicherry, 25^th August 2024

Dr. R. Venkatesh, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Aravind-Pondicherry, was honoured with the Dr. GV lifetime achievement award by the Akila India Samuga Nala Amaippu at Pondicherry.

Chennai, 16-18 August 2024

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli was honoured with the TNOA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Best Free Paper Session
Dr. Prithviraj U, Medical Consultant, Retina, Aravind-Madurai
Title: Mastering modified Gabor’s SFIOL technique from novice to expert: Comparison of surgical outcomes

Winners: TNOA ET Selvam Endowment Quiz Award
Dr. Chinmay Vikas Mahatme,  and Dr. Sujay Sanjay Jaju, PG Resident, Aravind-Coimbatore

Winners -TNOA Free Paper Session – Cornea
Dr. Divya Nachammai, PG Resident, Aravind-Coimbatore
Title: Azadirachta indica: A novel natural approach effective in demodectic ocular surface disorders

Winner: TNOA Free Paper Session – Neuro Ophthalmology
Dr. Ruhel Kurudamannil Chacko, Resident, Aravind-Coimbatore
Title: PULSE study: Efficacy of pupilmate in low cost pupillary light reflex screening

Winner: TNOA Free Paper Session – Orbit
Dr. Viji Rangarajan, Chief, Orbit, Aravind-Coimbatore
Title: Hook, Line & Sinker

Winner: Free Paper Session – Cataract
Dr. Bala Saraswathy, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Coimbatore
Title: Acute waterfall blindness

Winner: Free Paper Session – Glaucoma 2
Dr. Rohan Daniel, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Coimbatore
Title: To compare the efficacy of 1st and 2nd generation probes of Micropulse Cyclophotocoagulation

Winner: Free Paper Session – Orbit 2
Dr. Padmapriya Venkatraman, PG Resident
Title: A scar for a scar. Scar release with full thickness skin grafting for cicatricial ectropion

First Runner-Up:  Vinadi Vina – Quiz Session
Dr. D. Chandrasekhar, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Coimbatore, Dr. VR. Saravanan,Chief, Retina, Aravind-Coimbator, Dr. Chinmay Vikas Mahatme, and Dr. Sujay Sanjay Jaju

Dr. Velayutham Award for Best Free Paper in Glaucoma (2023)
Dr. Devendra Maheshwari, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Service, Aravind-Tirunelveli
Title: Long-term outcomes of MMC trabeculectomy with subconjunctival injections versus sponges: A randomised controlled trial

Best Scientific Video in OPL
Dr. V.R. Vivekanandan, Medical Consultant, Cataract and General Ophthalmology Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli
Title: CTS my way

Best Paper in Glaucoma
Dr. R. Madhavi, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli
Title: Outcomes of GATT in juvenile open-angle glaucoma (JOAG)

Best Paper in Cornea
Dr. Harini Krishna, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Kovilpatti
Title: Demographic and clinical profile of patients presenting with corneal foreign body to secondary eye care centre in rural South India

Best Thesis
Dr. Drishti, Postgraduate, Aravind-Tirunelveli
Title: To assess the efficacy of combined phacoemulsification and microhook AB interno trabeculotomy in South Indian eyes with open angle glaucoma

Winner:  Heroes of TNOA Award
Dr. Puja Maitra, Medical Consultant, Retina-Vitreous Services, Aravind-Chennai

Winner:  Best Paper
Dr. Divya J, PG Resident, Aravind-Chennai
Title: Rare complications of optic nerve head melanocytoma

Winner:  Best Paper
Dr. D. Raseena Atheek, PG Resident, Aravind-Chennai
Title: Retrospective study of outcomes of Hemi-Hang back adjustable suture in horizontal rectus surgery

Winner – Quick Ophthal Quiz
Dr. S. Sivaranjani, Medical Officer – Retina Services, Aravind-Pondicherry

Winner: TNOA Best Free Paper Award for Comprehensive & Community Social Ophthalmology
Dr. Akshay Wagh, DNB Resident, Aravind-Pondicherry
Title: Waste Segregation in Healthcare Facilities: Revenue generation and sustainable disposal

Winner: TNOA Capt. Subramamaniam Best Video Award
Dr. Premjith Muraleedharan, Cornea Fellow, Aravind-Pondicherry
Title: Pythium keratitis v/s Fungal keratitis

Winner: Chen EyeCon Best Paper Presentation for Cornea – II
Dr. Premjith Muraleedharan
Title: Outcomes of intracameral and intrastromal voriconazole in deep stromal fungal ulcers in South India

Winner: Chen Eye Con Best Paper Presentation for  Comprehensive Ophthalmology – V
Dr. Vijay Antony, DNB Resident, Aravind-Pondicherry
Title: Posterior segment disease diagnosis done by tele-ophthalmologists vs base hospital specialists

USA, 9-11 August

Dr. Hari Bhadari Anand, Junior Resident, Aravind-Pondicherry, won the prestigious 2024 David Hunter Cherwek, MD Award for Global Ophthalmology for his presentation titled, Greening Eye Care: Environmental sustainability of telemedicine at a tertiary eye-care centre in South India.

Malaysia, 11-13 July

Dr. Sathya T. Ravilla, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Services, Aravind-Tirupati
2^nd Place in Poster Village
Title: Creating a smartphone app to improve compliance to Brock String therapy

Dr. Shashikant Shetty, Chief, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Services, Aravind-Madurai
3^rd place in Video Kiosk
Title: A case of periodic alternating skew deviation

Dr. Marie Fredrick Mouttapa, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Services, Aravind-Pondicherry
3^rd  Place in Poster Village
Title: Eyes at risk: Exploring vernal conjunctivitis and its link to keratoconus prevalence

Dr. Kunjal Gala, DNB Resident, Aravind-Chennai
3^rd Place in Free Paper (Adult Ophthalmology)
Title: A comparative analysis of isolated ocular motor nerve palsies in patients above and below 50 years

Punjab, 6-7 July

Thulasiraj Ravilla, Director-Operations, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), was honoured with the prestigious Guru Dronacharya Award 2023 at the 18th edition of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight-INDIA national conference held at Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab. This prestigious award recognises his excellence in the field of community eye care in the form of mentoring eye care institutions on a sustained basis covering a comprehensive set of systems, for several years.

Raichel R, Assistant Manager, Quality, Aravind-Pondicherry, won the Best Paper Award for her paper titled, Performing successful cataract surgery through digital monitoring: GoProLive.

Sumathy A, Manager, Camp, Aravind-Pondicherry, won the Best Paper Award for her paper titled, Repurposing: An interesting approach to eye care waste.

Vikky Kumar M, Manager-Quality & Inpatient Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli, won Best Poster Award for his poster titled, Comparison of efficacy of vision centres and comprehensive eye camps in detection of specialty cases.

Chennai, 6-7 July

Dr. Apurva Nagtode, Cornea Fellow, Aravind-Pondicherry, won the grand prize at the film festival of the Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India (IIRSI) Convention 2024, held at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. The award was given for her video titled, AB-Interno Schlemm’s canal surgery: Touch, tear, and thread technique.

Chennai, 23^rd June

Dr. Shreeya Hinge, and Dr. Kaavya Khatri, Postgraduates, Aravind-Pondicherry, secured second prize in the PG/Fellow Quiz contest, with a cash prize at the “Fracture Repair And Clinical Tips Under Real Experts” (FRACTURE 24) CME, held at Sankara Netralaya, Chennai.

Aravind-Theni, Saturday, 15^th June

Aravind-Theni was awarded “Best Single Specialty Hospital Below 100 Beds – Central Zone” at the programme organised by the Association of Health Providers India (AHPI).

Delhi, 9th May 2024

Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, Aravind Eye Care System received the prestigious Padma Shri Award from the honourable President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi

New Delhi, 10th May 2024

Dr. B. Harinikrishna, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Kovilpatti, and Dr. A. Saranya, Paediatric Medical Consultant, Aravind-Salem were awarded with the Dr. G. Venkataswamy Gold Medal in ophthalmology for achieving the highest marks in the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) in Ophthalmology, conducted by the National Board of Examinations in medical sciences.

They were presented with the award by the honourable President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at a special ceremony held in New Delhi.

Thiruvananthapuram, 5th May

Dr. S.R. Rathinam, Chief, Uvea Services, Aravind – Madurai, was honoured with the Dr. KGR Nair Oration Award at the annual conference of Trivandrum Ophthalmic club, Reflection 2024, held at Hotel Residency Towers, Thiruvananthapuram, under the aegis of the Kerala Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons (KSOS).

Abu Dhabi, 18-20 April

Dr. R. Sharmila, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Service, Aravind-Madurai, won the best video award at the  International Congress held at Hilton Hotel, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, for her video titled, When things go bleak, there is always a silver lining: Quadruple procedure in microspherophakia.

Aravind Community Eye Clinic, Sankarankovil, 12th May

G.G. Sangeetha, MLOP- OP, Aravind Community Eye Clinic, Sankarankovil was honoured with the Best Nurse Award by Red Cross Society on the occasion of International Nurses Day.

Patna, 13^th April

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli was conferred with “Dr Ranjan Akhoury Oration Award” at the Annual meeting of Patna Ophthalmic Society (POSCON), held at Patna, on 13th April 2024.

Boston, 5-8 April

Aravind doctors won prizes at the 50th Anniversary American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS 2024) held in the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Massachusetts, USA.

Dr. R. Venkatesh, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Pondicherry
1st prize
Category: Glaucoma surgery
Video title: Ab interno Schlemm’s canal surgery: A comprehensive guide to navigating the canal with precision – touch, tear, and thread the canal

Dr. K. Veena, Chief, Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Services, Aravind-Pondicherry
Runner-up
Category: Special interest
Video title: Fostering innovation in ophthalmology: A spotlight on Hackathon

Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Chief, Cataract & IOL Services, Aravind-Chennai
Best Paper of Session
Category: Free paper
Title: Comparative analysis of intraoperative sub-conjunctival depot steroid to routine topical steroids and NSAIDs in phacoemulsification
Runner-up
Category: Glaucoma surgery
Video title: From soil to sight: An inconceivable invasion

Madurai, 7^th April

On the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, Thiagarajar College, Madurai honoured Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, Aravind Eye Care System, with the illustrious Alumni Award for his outstanding contribution to perpetuating the reach of quality eye care to the poor and needy through active community involvement, screening camps and establishing IT enabled vision centres in rural areas.

Kolkata, 14-17 March

Aravind doctors actively participated and garnered recognition at the 82nd Annual Conference of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOC 2024) held in Kolkata.

Dr. G. Natchiar was honoured with the International Ophthalmic Heroes of India Award for being conferred with Padma Shri, recongising her distinguished contribution and services in the field of medicine. On behalf of her, the participating doctors from Aravind received the award.

Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System, was honoured with the award of the Honorary Fellow All India Collegium of Ophthalmology (FAICO) at the AIOC 2024, held in Kolkata.
Dr. R.D. Ravindran was nominated in the speciality of “Comprehensive Ophthalmology” by the Governing Board of the Collegium of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) in its meeting held on 8^th February.

Aravind-Madurai

Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, Chief, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services
Dr. Gullapalli N Rao Oration Lecture
Title:  Innovative diagnostic procedures in fungal keratitis.

S.R. Rathinam, Chief, Uvea Services was honoured with the Best of IJO Certificate 2023
Title: Leptospiral uveitis: “Transition from epidemic to endemic form” difficulties in laboratory confirmation. (G. Jeya Kohila, P. Chidambaranthan Gowri, and K.S. Balagiri)

Dr. Usha Kim, Chief, Orbit & Oculoplasty
Best Free Papers

• Our SMS Strategy for Molecular Diagnosis of Retinoblastoma
• Genetics and Retinoblastoma: All you need to know!

Dr. Madhu Shekhar, Chief, Cataract Services, received the Best of IJO Certificate 2023
Title: Outcomes of toric intraocular lens realignment surgery done using slit lamp method and wavefront aberrometry method

Dr. Manju R. Pillai, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services
International Ophthalmic Heroes of India Award for Best Video Award – World Glaucoma Congress
Title: This too shall pass

Dr. R. Sharmila, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services
IJO Commendation Certificate – One of the top 10 cited papers of the IJO in 2021
Title: Impact of COVID-19 on follow-up and medication adherence in patients with glaucoma in a tertiary eye care centre in south India
(Dr. Subathra GN, Sharmila R, Dr. Vijayalakshmi A, Iswarya M, and Udayakumar B.)

Dr. Muthukrishnan, Medical Consultant, Retina Services
Best Free Paper
Title: Toxic anterior segment syndrome following Vitreoretinal surgery: A retrospective analysis (FP2083)

Dr. Meera Biju Rahim, IOL Fellow
Consolation prize in the Video Symposium “When the going gets tough”
Title: Innovation born out of an adversity

Dr. Athul S. Puthalath

• Winner – Two minutes to win video symposium
  Title: BLU revolution
• Grand Prize winner – FIFA Film Festival of AIOC
  Title: Slit Lamp Sensor
• Consolation Prize – Think under the apple tree
  Title: Slit lamp sensor: A sustainable solution

Dr. George V. Puthuran, Chief, Glaucoma Services

• AIOS – P Siva Reddy International Award 2023
  Title: Evolution and widespread use of an affordable aqueous drainage implant
• IJO Award of appreciation for one of the top 25 cited papers of 2021
  Title: Neovascular Glaucoma – A review

Dr. Talla Sruthi, Glaucoma Fellow
Best Physical Poster
Title: Bilateral secondary angle closure glaucoma as an initial manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus

Dr. Mythri Rao, Glaucoma Fellow
Young Researcher’s Award
1st Prize – All India PG Thesis competition

Aravind-Tirunelveli

Dr. Mohideen Abdul Kader, Medical Consultant, secured the best free paper award for his paper titled, To screen Myocilin mutation in a large South Indian family with early onset JOAG and POAG while, Dr. Shivam Gupta, Medical Consultant, was the winner at the Hyde Park Paper Session for his paper titled, Clinical and surgical outcomes of Sturge Weber syndrome.

Aravind-Coimbatore

Dr. Viji Rangarajan, Chief, Orbit & Oculoplasty, received the
International Ophthalmic Heroes of India for Best video Oscar award, for her video titled, Eyes are the windows of soul: Bridging extensive upper eyelid colobomas

Dr. Abhishek Das, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Retina-Vitreous Services, secured the Best paper award for his paper titled  Impact of telemedicine in ROP screening in rural outreach in South India: A report of 17270 sessions.

Dr. Virna M Shah, Medical Consultant, Neuro-Ophthalmology
Best of IJO Certificate 2023
Title: Comparison of glaucomatous from non-glaucomatous optic neuropathy using Bruch’s membrane opening minimum rim width optical coherence tomography measurements. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2023 Aug;71(8):3005-3009.
(Karthik M Kumar, A K Karan, Veerappan R Saravanan, Virna M Shah.)

Aravind-Pondicherry

Dr. Harsha, DNB resident won the Dr. Narsing Rao award & Best paper in Uvea titled, The Sarcoidosis-Tuberculosis conundrum: The role of serum ACE, Mantoux test and Lymphocyte count.

Dr. Balraj, Medical Consultant, Neuro-Ophthalmology, won the Best free paper award in Neuro Ophthalmology titled, Proficiency assessment of trained vision centre technicians in Neuro-Ophthalmology disease screening and he was the winner of AIOC FAICO Gold Medal 2024 in Neuro Ophthalmology.

Dr. Indira Pegu, Fellow – Glaucoma services has won the C S Reshmi Award for the best video of the year titled, DIY for Glaucoma Procedures- Practice Makes a Doctor Perfect!.

Dr. Naveen R, Medical Consultant, Cornea & Refractive surgery services, secured the top 16 in the C S Reshmi Award for the best video of the year titled, Pythium keratitis vs Fungal keratitis.

Dr. Kaavya, DNB  Resident was the winner in the Poster Podium Presentation in the Cataract category titled, Intra-operative complications in high volume cataract surgery: A quartile-wise analysis.

Dr. Hari Bhadari, DNB Resident was the winner in the Poster Podium Presentation at the Community Ophthalmology category titled, Environmental Sustainability of Outreach & Telemedicine at a Tertiary Eyecare Centre in South India.

Dr. Kulharsh B. Jaiswal, Medical Consultant, Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services won the AIOC 2024 – FIFA Award at Cornea category.

Dr. V.R. Vivekanandan, Chief, Cataract-General Ophthalmology Services won the AIOC 2024 – FIFA Award at the Cataract category.

Dr. Prabhu Krishna, Medical Consultant won the AIOC 2024 – FIFA Award Runner-up in the General Ophthalmology category.

Dr. Shagufa Jamal, Medical Consultant won 2^nd Price in the AIOC 2024 Quiz Competition.

The following doctors were honoured with AIOS International Ophthalmic Heroes of India award.

• Dr. R. Venkatesh, Chief Medical Officer
• Dr. K. Veena, Chief, Paediatric Ophthalmology
• Dr. S. Kavitha, Chief, Glaucoma Services
• Dr. Swati Upadhaya, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma
• Dr. V.R. Vivekanandan, Chief, Cataract
• Dr. Shivraj, Fellow, Retina
• Dr. Apurva, Fellow, Cornea

Aravind-Chennai

Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Chief, Cataract Services
International Ophthalmic Heroes of Indian Award for Best paper of Cataract session at American Academy of Ophthalmology, San Francisco, November 2023

Dr. Prabu Baskaran, Medical Consultant
IJO Recognition Certificate for Peer review

Dr. Aditya Maitray, Medical Consultant
Best Poster Podium Presentation
Title: AI-Powered smartphone fundus camera: Advancing referable AMD screening

Dr. Puja Maitra, Medical Consultant

• Best Physical Poster
  Title: Pole to pole imaging: Economising paediatric ocular imaging by DIY devices  

• International Ophthalmic Heroes Award for Certificate of Achievement from Harvard Medical School
  Title: HMX-pro- genetics essentials and genetic testing and sequencing technologies

Hyderabad, 2^nd March

Aravind doctors won prizes at the 2nd Incubator Start-up Challenge 2024, held at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. Dr. Shivraj Tagare, Retina Fellow, and Dr. Megha Nair, Cornea Fellow, both from Aravind-Pondicherry, secured first prize for their project I-Verter at the AIOS Eye Invent Hackathon. Additionally, Dr. Shivam Gupta, Glaucoma Fellow, Aravind-Tirunelveli, secured the second prize for his project SL90DH – Slit Lamp 90D Holder in the AIOS Eye Invent Hackathon category.

Bali, Indonesia, 22-25 February

Dr. Meghana Tanwar, Medical Consultant, Orbit, Aravind-Madurai was among the three ophthalmologists awarded the APAO International fellowship for the year 2022-23 at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress, held at Bali, Indonesia.   This award is bestowed upon promising ophthalmologists annually, particularly from developing nations in the Asia-Pacific region, to enhance their clinical skills, surgical exposure, and research experience, and broaden their perspectives in ophthalmology. Dr. Meghana completed her fellowship at the Osaka Medical University Hospital, Oska, Japan, from April to June 2023, under the guidance of Dr. Y. Kitaguchi. She was presented with the award during the congress.

Additionally, Dr. R. Madhavi, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli, received the prestigious “Professor Yasuo Tano” Travel grant.

Pondicherry, 9-11 February

Aravind-Pondicherry won first prize at the institutional level in the Farm Fest 2024-cum-34^th Flower, Vegetable, and Fruit Show organised by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Puducherry.

Pondicherry, 2^nd February

At the CII Pondicherry Innovation Contest, a team comprising Dr. Kunal A Mandlik, Dr. Prabhu Krishna, and Dr. Nishant Vivekanand, DNB residents, Aravind-Pondicherry, and Dr. Kunjal, DNB resident, Aravind-Chennai, secured second place for their innovative device, LumiZoom.

Aravind-Madurai

Medical Consultants from Aravind-Madurai, Dr. Anchitha Meenu, Dr. Meri Debbarma, and Dr. Sivadarshan, and Retina Fellows, Dr. Ananya Goswami, Dr. Athul S. Puthlath, Dr. Avik Dey Sarkar, Dr. Kulsum Sayyad, Dr. Pragathi, Dr. Raghavendra, Dr. Reshma Dara, Dr. Saumya Jain, Dr. Shivani Srivatsava, Dr. Shraddha Shah, and Dr. Toshit Varshney have successfully cleared the FAICO examination.

Coimbatore, 25^th January

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, AECS, was honoured with the PSG Vishwa Seva Rathna Award by PSG & Sons’ Charities, Coimbatore, on the occasion of the 98^th Founders’ Day.

Delhi, 2-4 February

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, was conferred with the Prof. N.N. Sood Lecture award at the 57^th Annual Foundation Day Celebrations of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, Delhi.

Chennai, 16-17 December

Dr. Usha Kim, Chief, Orbit and Oculoplasty, Aravind-Madurai won a runner’s trophy at the Trauma – Ophthalmic premier league (OPL) at the annual conference of Ocular Trauma Society of India (OTSI) held in Mahabalipuram, Chennai.

Maharashtra, 6-7, January

Dr. Usha Kim was conferred with the Late Dr. Neelima Pawade Lifetime Achievement Award at the 48th annual conference of the Vidarbha Ophthalmic Society, “Eyespire 2024,” held in Maharashtra. She delivered an engaging oration titled A journey beyond vision.

Hyderabad, 9-10 December

Dr. Jayasri K. N., Medical Consultant, Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Aravind-Madurai, won second prize in the poster podium presentation titled  Linezolid-induced toxic optic neuropathy: A case series.
Dr. Sabarinath A., MS Resident, Aravind-Madurai, received third prize in the poster podium presentation titled Visual outcome in patients treated with high-dose corticosteroids for indirect traumatic optic neuropathy.
Dr. Utami Noor Syabaniyah, Neuro Trainee, Aravind-Coimbatore, secured third prize in the poster podium presentation titled Nerve rattling infections: Clinical and radiological tracing of cranial nerve palsy due to skull base osteomyelitis.

Hyderabad, 17-19 November

Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System, was presented with the Dr. PN Nagpal Outstanding Contribution in Ophthalmology Award in appreciation of his dedicated service and commitment in the field of ophthalmology at the conference held at the Leonia Convention Centre, Hyderabad.
Dr. Madhu Shekhar, Chief, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services, Aravind-Madurai, received
Runner-up in the video competition for his video titled Unravel the clues of zonular compromise  and secured runner-up at the e-Poster competition for his poster titled MSICS in intralenticular metallic foreign body.
Dr. R. Sankarananthan, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Salem, received the Best free paper award for the paper titled Objective assessment of simulated surgical outcomes using a manual small-incision surgery virtual reality simulator.
Dr. V. R. Vivekanandan, Chief, Cataract Services, Aravind-Pondicherry, won the Dr. Y. M. Paranjape Innovative Video award for the video titled A novel flanged method for iridadialysis repair.
Dr. Naveen Nischal, Medical Officer, Aravind-Pondicherry, won the Dr. Debasish Bhattacharya the Best Video Award for the video titled Flanged scleral fixation of IOL-A novel 4 flanged technique using a regular PMMA IOL.

Aravind-Madurai

Dr. Athul S. Puthalath, Retina Fellow, Aravind-Madurai, won the “Seva Foundation 2023 – Call for Ideas” Project Grants.

Title: BLU (Blue Light Unit) Patch: The future of smartphone aided blue light photography in tele-ophthalmology, and READ – Rapid evaluation and diagnosis of external ocular lesions to aid in tele-ophthalmology

Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Chief, Cataract Services, Aravind-Chennai
Best paper award at the session on cataract
Title: Aravind pseudoexfoliation (APEX) study: Ten-year postoperative results

Dr. Siddharth, Medical Consultant, General Ophthalmology Services, Aravind-Coimbatore
Best paper award at the session on cornea
Title: Multi-centric evaluation of a CRISPR/Cas12a-based diagnostic platform for the diagnosis of fungal keratitis

12^th October

The Board of Management of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight-India honoured Thulasiraj Ravilla, Director Operations, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), with the Guru Dronacharya Award, on World Sight Day 2023.

Delhi, 7-8 October

Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Chief, IOL & Cataract Services, Aravind-Chennai, was honoured with the Subodh Agarwal Gold Medal Award at the annual conference of the Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India (IIRSI) held at Hotel Pullman, Aerocity, New Delhi.
Title: Postoperative misalignment of toric IOLS; and Principles of IOL placement in eyes with PCR.

Pune, 6-8 October

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli
Oration title: Glaucoma now and then: The paradigm shift in surgical management

Pune, 6-8 October

Dr. Devendra Maheswari, Senior Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli
Runner-up
Video presentation title: Steer clear of blind entry: a new technique of ab interno tube
Category: Glaucoma Diagnostics

Dr. Swati Upadhyaya, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Pondicherry
Runner-up
Video presentation title: DIY for glaucoma procedures: Practice makes a doctor perfect in Category: Glaucoma Management

4^th October

Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director Emeritus, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), has been listed among the top ten Lifetime Highest-Cited Ophthalmology Researchers in India. This ranking for the year 2023 was announced by a panel of experts from Stanford University and Elsevier, based on the impact of his work in 2022. Notably, Dr. S.R. Rathinam, Chief, Uvea Services, Aravind-Madurai has been previously listed in the 2022 ranking based on citations in 2021. Furthermore, in the latest annual Top-Cited Researchers Ranking for 2023, Dr. M. Srinivasan, Dr. S.R. Rathinam, Dr. N. Venkatesh Prajna, Chief, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. S. Lalitha Prajna, Chief, Microbiologist, Aravind-Madurai, have all been included.

Madhya Pradesh, 26-27 August

Revathy Kannadhasan,
Manager-Administration, Aravind-Chennai

Title: Acceptance of cataract surgery from the patients who have systemic conditions at a tertiary eye hospital

Awards presented during the inaugural function of the conference
– for the year 2022

– for the year 2023

Eureka Innovation Odyssey category Prizes

Best Poster Award

Best Paper Award

Quiz

Bhubaneswar, 3-6 July

Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, Director-Fellowship and Physician Development Programme, Aravind Eye Care System, delivered an invited talk on Family screening for early glaucoma detection: Chase the families, at the Prof. C.S. Baskaran Endowment Lecture, which was organised by LV Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar.

Aravind-Madurai, Chennai, 14^th November 2024 

Aravind observed World Diabetes Day by organising a series of events with the aim of improving awareness among patients, and the public about diabetes-related eye complications. Further, the importance of controlling diabetes and undergoing regular eye examinations to prevent blindness due to diabetic retinopathy, were stressed.

Aravind-Madurai

In the series of events held at Aravind-Madurai, organised a range of educational and awareness activities for MLOPs, counsellors, patients, and the public. The events featured a food pyramid, models preparation, quiz competitions for MLOPs and patients, an awareness CME, a speech competition, an awareness exhibition, pamphlet distribution, an awareness talk in TV, teleconsultation, and a mega screening camp. Furthermore, blood tests were provided for patients at a subsidised rate as part of the event.

Aravind-Chennai

In view of World Diabetes Day, Aravind-Chennai featured a food pyramid display to educate participants about healthy eating choices, and awareness posters, focusing on the signs, symptoms, and prevention of diabetic retinopathy. Furthermore, free Random Blood Sugar (RBS) tests were provided as part of the event for patients, raising awareness about the importance of regular blood sugar monitoring.

Aravind-Tirunelveli

Aravind-Tirunelveli observed World Diabetes Day by organising an awareness exhibition to educate the public and attendees about preventive measures to protect themselves from diabetes-related eye issues.

Aravind-Salem, Madurai & Pondicherry, 6-17 November 2024

The first year MLOPs at Aravind-Salem, Madurai, and Pondicherry celebrated their Graduation Day on 6^th, 13^th, and 17^th  November 2024 respectively, with their parents. The programmes featured cultural events and heartfelt reflections on their journeys and achievements. Parents expressed pride in their daughters’ accomplishments and the positive impact of their new roles as employees.

At Aravind-Madurai, considering the graduates’ parents who were unable to attend their daughters’ graduation in person, because of work or travel challenges, also to ensure they witness the celebration, a YouTube link was provided. This marked the first time an MLOP graduation event at Aravind was live streamed, and it was highly successful, with a total of 597 viewers watching the programme online.

Aravind-Madurai, 7-9 November 2024

The emergency resuscitation room exhibition at Aravind-Madurai was inaugurated by Dr. S.R. Rathinam, Chief, Uvea Services, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. R. Banushree, Physician, Aravind-Chennai and Kannamma Ravindran, HOD, Lakshmi Eye Care Support Services. The exhibition served as an eye-opener for staff, enhancing their knowledge of basic life support systems, emergency situation handling, and understanding of normal and diseased body functions. MLOPs from the Ward department created the innovative exhibits that engaged all visitors.

Aravind-Madurai, 8-10 November 2024

The Arangam – Aravind Intramural Conference, held as part of October Summit, was conducted to encourage learning, continuous improvement, and innovation among all staff members of Aravind Eye Hospitals. A total of 320 participants from all departments of Aravind centres participated in four parallel tracks: Care, Focus, Heal, and Train. This year, two new competitions were introduced under Train tract, namely Art in Ophthalmology, and Teaching in 2 Minutes. Each track featured instructional courses, oral presentation, poster presentation, video presentation, and quiz competitions. In total, there were 290 innovative presentations, and 54 participants won prizes. Additionally, several common events such as instructional courses, learning stalls,  informative posters and innovations, cultural events, and fun games, were held for all participants. The participants were also taken to Keeladi Museum.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 23-26 October 2024

Aravind-Coimbatore organised a four day orientation programme for the newly recruited supervisors and tutors, aiming to effectively integrating them into their new roles. The internal faculty team including, Dr. Sasikala, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, Sr. Sulochana, Sr. Radhika, Sr. Shanmugalakshmi, Dr. Deepa T.N., MLOP Incharge Doctor, R. Krishnakumar, Manager-Regulatory Affairs, AuroLab, Syed Ali, Senior Faculty, LAICO, and other senior MLOP team members shared their insights on various topics. The multiple sessions oriented the participants on the welfare programmes, importance of retention, their roles in implementing MLOP policies, the challenges faced in supervisory roles, the role of a tutor in implementing academic activities, their responsibilities in implementing NABH activities, the supervisors’ role as leaders within the organisation, the activities and contributions of LAICO and Aurolab, and the importance of imparting Aravind culture and values as mentors.

Aravind-Madurai, 25^th October 2024

The workshop organised by Aravind-Madurai in collaboration with National Health Mission Tamil Nadu, aimed to enhance the participants’ skills and knowledge in critical areas of ophthalmology, including injection techniques, protocols, and comprehensive postoperative endophthalmitis management.

Dr. R. Kim, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Madurai, welcomed the attendees, and Dr. Naresh Babu, Chief, Retina Vitreous Services, delivered an introductory address. Sessions were led by Dr. Prithviraj and Dr. Muthukrishnan, Medical Consultants, Retina and Vitreous Services, along with other internal experts. The event further featured panel discussions, and hands-on training in wet lab. Dr. Naresh Babu gave a vote of thanks. The workshop successfully attracted around 140 doctors from across Tamil Nadu.

Aravind-Chennai, 25^th October 2024

Held at the ARCORE Training Centre, the programme aimed to structure the curriculum for the Postgraduate Training Programme. Heads of the departments and postgraduate coordinators from over 20 colleges across Chennai participated. The programme received positive feedback, with participants sharing valuable insights and suggestions to develop a structured course to enhance postgraduate students’ knowledge and skills in ophthalmology.

Aravind-Madurai, 20^th October 2024

The CME held at Aravind-Madurai featured various sessions to share expert knowledge and best practices with the MLOPs from 39 vision centres, under Madurai. Arumugaselvi, IOL Clinical Manager, Jeyakohila, Nursing Superintendent, Aravind-Madurai, and Syed Ali, led the sessions, while Dr. Kowsalya, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Madurai, facilitated them. Pitchaimeena, VC MLOP Manager, and Jhansi Sunitha, VC Manager, handled the event arrangements. Mohammed Gowth, Senior Faculty Incharge of vision Centres, summarised the take home messages from the sessions and insisting upon adherence to protocols, frugal, and integrity – the core values of Aravind. Dr. Usha Kim, Regional HR Director, extended her guidance and support. Additionally, the Aurowel check-ups was conducted by the lab team and medical officers.

Aravind-Chennai, 19^th October 2024

Aravind-Chennai celebrated its 7^th Hospital Day with great enthusiasm, attended by all staff members. The chief guest, Dr. Saveetha Rajesh, Chairman, The Pupil, Saveetha Eco School, & Professor of Radiology, Saveetha Medical College, graced the event. Dr. Aravind, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Chennai, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the hospital’s achievements and announcing future expansion plans for both the free hospital and specialty services, as well as new benchmarks in patient care.

The event honoured the dedication of staff members, with service awards presented to those completing 5, 10, 20, and 25 years of service. Additionally, the Auroutsav winners’ trophy was awarded to the blue team, celebrating their achievements and teamwork. The highlight of the event was the cultural performances, which creatively depicted each of the seven pillars of the Aravind Eye Care System onstage.

Aravind-Salem, 13^th October 2024

Organised by Aravind-Salem, the Continuous Medical Education (CME) programme featured various events, including 12 talks, two case presentations, a quiz programme, exhibitions, and Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Speakers from other Aravind centres and leading eye hospitals participated, with 57 attendees and 16 faculty members from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Six trade stalls were represented by Aurolab, Essilor, Hoya, Zeiss, Zivira, and Sun Pharma. The participants gave positive feedback, praising the event for being informative and covering all aspects of paediatric ophthalmology comprehensively.

Aravind-Madurai, 10^th October 2024

In commemoration of World Sight Day 2024, Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai and Tirunelveli organised various programmes to promote eye care awareness.
Aravind-Madurai conducted two notable events: a human chain cum awareness rally, and an eye care awareness exhibition, aimed at raising public awareness. The rally, which began at Anna Bus Stand and concluded at Aravind Eye Hospital, was flagged off by the Inspector of Mathichiyam Police Station, Madurai, in the presence of Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), along with Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, HR Director, AECS, and Dr. Usha Kim, Regional HR Director for Aravind-Madurai, Theni, and Dindigul. The eye care awareness exhibition, inaugurated by chief guest R. Sakthivel, District Revenue Officer, Madurai, showcased various eye-related issues and procedures. Approximately 1,200 individuals attended the event, including staff from all clinical departments and children from five schools in and around Madurai: TVS Lakshmi School, TVS Primary School, Velammal School, Mahatma School, and Queen Mira School. Several fun activities, along with drawing and essay writing competitions, were organised for schoolchildren from grades 5 to 8, and the winners were awarded prizes. Additionally, a temporary vision centre was set up at AMRF, where visitors were screened and consulted with doctors online.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 10^th October 2024

The awareness programme at Aravind-Tirunelveli was conducted on the theme, “Love Your Eyes, Kids,” through the SEVA-SPECSSS Project for children and parents who visited the paediatric clinic. Dr. A. Fathima, Consultant, Paediatric Services, Aravind-Tirunelveli, explained paediatric eye diseases and preventive measures to avoid eye problems and injuries, especially during Deepavali celebrations. She also conducted a quiz for children, asking interesting questions. As a token of appreciation, small gifts were given to children who answered correctly. Dr. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, Dr. Meenakshi, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirunelveli, staff from the Paediatric Department, and SEVA-SPECSSS Project members also joined the programme. A total of 40 children and their parents participated in the programme. Refreshments were provided to all participants at the end.

Aravind-Madurai, 1^st October 2024

Aravind Eye Care System conferred the Dr. G. Venkataswamy Memorial Award 2024 upon Dr. Martin Henry Spencer in appreciation of his significant contributions to revolutionising cataract surgical practices worldwide and improving the lives of the visually impaired in developing countries, enabling them to experience the world without constraints. The grand ceremony was held at the LAICO auditorium. Dr. R.D. Ravindran delivered the welcome address, and Dr. R. Ramakrishnan introduced the awardee. Dr. S.R. Krishnadas read the citation. Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, AECS, and Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, AECS, presented the citation and award to Dr. Spencer. Following that, Dr. Spencer delivered the Dr. G. Venkataswamy Memorial Oration on the topic, “Riding the wave of Dr. Venkataswamy’s Vision: A personal journey with Seva and Aravind.” The programme concluded with a dance performance by PG Doctors, followed by a vote of thanks by Dr. R. Kim.

Dr. Martin Henry Spencer, an ophthalmologist and humanitarian from Saskatchewan, Canada, is well known for his contributions to enhancing ophthalmic practices in developing countries. He has played a key role in simplifying modern cataract surgical techniques and inventing surgical equipment to be performed in challenging settings, making them more accessible and relevant. In addition to his clinical expertise, Dr. Spencer mentors the next generation of ophthalmologists by sharing his knowledge and skills.

As a long-time member of the Seva Foundation’s board, he regularly travels to regions in need, including India, Nepal, Tibet, Malawi, Guatemala, and Cambodia. In areas with limited or no access to eye care, he works in eye camps, performing cataract surgeries and training local professionals. Dr. Spencer has also significantly contributed to enhancing surgical care at Aravind Eye Hospitals by transferring technical knowledge and introducing modern practices. He has trained residents at Aravind in microsurgery and intraocular lens implantation, further strengthening the institution’s capacity to deliver high-quality eye care

Aravind-Coimbatore, 29^th September 2024

Aravind-Coimbatore opened a new facility to accommodate its growing patient volume. The new state-of-the-art eye care facility, spanning 440 thousand square feet, was inaugurated by the chief guest, Dr. B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan & Educationist, in the presence of other guests of honour, Dr. Ganapathy P. Rajkumar, Member of Parliament, Coimbatore, Vanitha Mohan, Chairperson, Pricol Ltd & Managing Trustee, Siruthuli, and Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu, Chairman & Managing Director, Lakshmi Machine Works.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. V. Narendran, CMO, Aravind-Coimbatore. Dr. R.D. Ravindran provided an overview of Aravind’s operations, followed by Dr. S. Aravind, Director-Projects, who gave an update on various on-going projects. Dr. P. Namperumalsamy delivered a felicitation speech. The chief guests further highlighted the positive qualities of Aravind.  During the occasion, the construction team was honoured with a memento and gift­, in recognition of their effort. Dr. Kalpana Narendran, Chief, Cataract & Paediatric Ophthalmology Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, concluded the event with a vote of thanks.

Aravind-Chennai/Dindigul/Tirupati, 22-27, and 29^th September 2024

Aravind Eye Hospitals in Chennai, Dindigul, and Tirupati, organised Graduation Day at the respective centre to honour MLOP trainees who have successfully completed their two years of training and promoting from trainee positions to full-time employees. A candlelight ceremony and the recitation of the Florence Nightingale pledge were special highlights of these events. Several second-year MLOPs shared their experiences, and prizes were awarded to the top scorers in the final exam. The programmes also featured dance performance by MLOPs, and inspiring speeches by doctors and tutors, congratulating the graduates and reaffirming the vision and mission of Dr. V. The event was also attended by the parents of the graduating MLOPs.

Aravind-Madurai, 20^th September 2024

Aravind-Madurai celebrated its 48th Hospital Day. The programme began with a prayer song, followed by a video presentation of the hospital’s one year report by Dr. R. Kim. Dr. P. Namperumalsamy presented the service awards to staff members, recognising their dedicated service completing 10, 20, and 30 years of experience. The programme also featured cultural performances by the Auroutsav team, including doctors, MLOPs, and admin staff.

Aravind-Madurai, 16^th September 2024

Aravind-Madurai opened a new vision centre in Aranthangi, Madurai, totalling 117 centres of Aravind Eye Care System. Dr. Sharmila, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind – Madurai, inaugurated the centre, in the presence of Dr. Tamilarasi, Medical Officer, Aravind-Madurai, camp sponsors, camp organisers, and several esteemed members from the local community. Mohammed Gowth, Senior Faculty, LAICO, and the vision centre team, including Jhansi, Pitchaimeena, and Aathi Parasakthi organised the event. The vision centre field staff, Nagalingam, and Raman, coordinated the proceedings. Rajananthana, VC Coordinator, Alankudi Vision Centre, provided mentorship and support to the new VC staff during the initial week. On the first day of the inauguration, the centre examined 80 patients, with 19 patients recommended for cataract surgery and 14 patients for eyeglasses among 7 patients placing orders for glasses.

Aravind-Salem, 17-18 September 2024

Aravind-Salem commemorated World Patient Safety Day by organising a series of events under the theme ‘Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety’ with the slogan ‘Get it Right, Make it Safe!’ As part of the observance, a session on the role of incident reporting, reviewing, and patient safety meetings in enhancing safety within Aravind was conducted. The Auroutsav team organised a Treasure Hunt activity to raise awareness about patient safety. Patient safety-related videos were displayed on all televisions to spread awareness, and public address announcements emphasised key safety points. Staff members were given badges promoting patient safety, and a banner highlighting the role of patients in ensuring their own safety was placed at the entrance. Additionally, a patient safety quiz was conducted for all MLOPs. Department heads also reinforced patient safety protocols through training sessions, followed by pre- and post-assessments conducted by senior staff.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 24^th September 2024

Aravind – Tirunelveli commemorated World Patient Safety Day by organising a conference on, Diagnosis matters: Promoting patient safety in health facilities and beyond, in association with Empower India.   Dr. Arul Prakash Rajadurai, a leading diabetologist from Tuticorin, was the chief guest.  Shankar, Member-Lawyer of Consumer Forum and Empower India, doctors, MLOPs, and a few admin staff attended the conference.

The programme commenced with a prayer song followed by Dr. R. Meenakshi welcoming the gathering.  Shankar gave a brief introduction about the chief guest and also appreciated the noble service provided at AECS.  Dr. Arulprakash Rajadurai delivered an interesting talk on the theme ‘Improving diagnosis for patient safety.’ Dr. Shivkumar proposed the vote of thanks.  Lakshmi R, Manager HR was the master of ceremony.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 21^st September 2024

Organised by Aravind-Tirunelveli, the workshop featured comprehensive training, including PowerPoint presentations, instructional videos, and live demonstrations on maintaining, cleaning, and repairing various ophthalmic instruments.  Over 88 skilled optometrists and biomedical engineers attended the workshop from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh.

Aravind-Salem, 17-21 September 2024

In observation of World Drivers’ Day, Aravind-Salem organised five drivers’ camps as part of the Eicher Truck Drivers Screening Project. Drivers who were screened received a badge symbolising their commitment to road safety. A selfie booth with the tagline “I pledge to drive safely” was also set up, where drivers took selfies. The first screening camp, held at Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Salem, was inaugurated by the plant head in the presence of Dr. Manohar Babu, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Salem.

Aravind-Chennai, 19-20 September 2024

Aravind-Chennai organised a two-day Aravind Advanced Cataract programme at the ARCORE training centre, in collaboration with the ALCON team for all Aravind doctors to enhance their cataract surgical skills.

The programme included lectures, live surgery telecasts, and hands on experience in the wet lab. There was a guest lecture by Dr. Richard Packard, Ophthalmology Consultant, speaking on, The history of IOLs and dealing with unhappy multifocal patients, from the UK through the Zoom platform. The programme was attended by 28 participants from all Aravind Tertiary Eye Care Centres.

Aravind-Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tirupati, Salem, Theni, Chennai and Pondicherry, September 2024

Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tirupati, Salem, Theni, Chennai and Pondicherry organised their annual Auroutsav in a grand manner this year, with each centre adopting unique themes. This vibrant week-long celebration, held at different times across the centres, featured a wide variety of events, performances, and activities that fostered teamwork among Aravind employees. Staff members were divided into teams, showcasing their special talents in various competitions. Events such as poetry contests, story writing, dance, rangoli, art from waste, photography, turncoat, no-fire cooking, and singing kindled their creativity, while outdoor games like kabaddi, tug of war, and others added excitement, making the occasion memorable. Each performance was judged by external members from various institutions and fields, with prizes awarded to winners in each competition. The overall winning team was awarded the trophy.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 2^nd September 2024

As part of its Employee Welfare initiative, Aravind-Tirunelveli initiated the “AURO REVIVE – Relax, Rejoice & Rejuvenate” programme, to promote employee well-being. The event began with a prayer song by Kanisha, an MLOP, followed by a welcome address from Padmakala. Sankarammal, and Princy, MLOPs, gave a Tamil folk dance performance.

Dr. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, Dr. Meenakshi, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirunelveli, and Dr. Padmavathy, Regional HR Director, Aravind-Tirunelveli presented certificates to MLOPs who completed Tailoring and Aari work training through the “My Life My Pride” initiative. Yellow belts and certificates were also distributed to those who completed six months of basic Karate training. The yellow belt recipients put on an entertaining show, performing kicking techniques, sparring, tile breaking, and forming a human pyramid. AURO REVIVE is planned to be a monthly event.

25^th August 2024 – 8^th September 2024

The 39th National Eye Donation Fortnight was commemorated by the Aravind Eye Banks in collaboration with communities and hospitals, through a series of events held across various Aravind Eye Hospitals. The theme for this year, “I Can See Clearly Now,” aimed to raise public awareness about the importance of eye donation, and promote greater community engagement in the eye donation movement. The activities included an eye donation marathon, awareness campaigns, candlelight rallies, debates, discussions, talks, orientations, competitions, and more. Notably, several events were graced by dignitaries, including IAS and IPS officers, government officials, and others who offered their support and encouragement.

Aravind-Theni, 31^st August 2024

Aravind-Theni celebrated its 39^th Hospital Day, in the presence of Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, AECS, and Dr. Usha Kim, Regional HR Director – Madurai Region. The event included a hospital activity report presentation by Dr. Sreeramya, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Theni, followed by cultural performances by MLOPs and doctors. During the occasion, Dr. G. Natchiar was honoured for receiving the prestigious Padma Shri Award.

23^rd August 2024

Aravind Eye Hospitals in Tirunelveli, Kovilpatti, and Tuticorin organised Graduation Day at the respective centre to honour MLOP trainees who have successfully completed their two years of training. A candlelight ceremony and the recitation of the Florence Nightingale pledge are special highlights of the event. Several second-year MLOPs shared their experiences, and prizes were awarded to the top scorers in the final exam. The programme also featured inspiring speeches by doctors and tutors, congratulating the graduates and reaffirming the vision and mission of Dr. V.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 25^th August 2024

Aravind-Pondicherry organised the Technology Skills Transfer Course 2024, bringing together around 40 internal and external participants to learn, innovate, and enhance their technical skills. The event featured insightful sessions and hands-on workshops, including Basic Video Editing & Movie Making, Creating Impactful PPT Slides, Managing a Social Media Page, Photo Essay & Case Report Publication, Using ChatGPT & Generative AI for Voiceovers and Scripts, 3D Designing & Printing, and Virtual Reality Immersive Learning. At the 3D Printing and Designing competition, Dr. Aravind Krishna and Dr. Benedicta won first prize, while Vimala Devi secured second place.

Aravind-Tirupati, 23-24 August 2024

The Aravind Centre for Eyecare Innovation (ACEi) and IIT Tirupati jointly conducted the Eye Innovation Hackathon 2024 at Aravind-Tirupati. Around 70 participants, including IIT Tirupati students, Aravind doctors, and technicians, participated. The participants grouped in different teams worked on nine problem statements, each focused on finding innovative solutions. The best solutions were awarded cash prizes: 1st prize Rs.50,000/-, 2nd prize Rs.30,000/-, and 3rd prize Rs.20,000/-. The event’s chief guest was Prof. K. N. Satyanarayana, Director, IIT Tirupati. Judges included R. D. Thulasiraj, Director Operations, AECS, Dr. Karthik Srinivasan, Medical Officer, Aravind-Chennai, Dr. Sridhar Chimalakonda, and Hemanth Satyanarayana. Udayakumar, Senior Faculty, LAICO, led the Hackathon organising team.

Aravind-Salem, 3^rd August 2024

As Aravind-Salem prepares to move to a new and bigger facility in 2026, the team participated in a half-day workshop. The workshop was initiated by Dr. Manohar Babu, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Aravind-Salem, and led by Syed Ali A, Senior Faculty, LAICO. The focus was on planning strategies and allocating resources to expand services in anticipation of the move.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 31^st July 2024

Aravind’s 116^th Vision Centre in Kayathar was inaugurated by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, in the presence of Saradha Ramakrishnan and Dr. R. Meenakshi, CMO, Aravind-Tirunelveli. Several well-wishers, camp sponsors, and patrons of Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), graced the occasion with their presence.

A team from Tirunelveli Base Hospital managed the event. On the inaugural day, 77 patients were examined.

Aravind, 22-27 July 2024

Library Week at Aravind was a unique annual event aimed at spreading knowledge. This year, the library team collaborated to organise various activities for postgraduates and MLOPs across Aravind libraries in Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, and Pondicherry. Events included an online research skills test for postgraduates, a photo quiz to test observational skills by identifying eye conditions and treatments from educational images, and an exciting treasure hunt within the library, where participants searched for hidden treasures using provided clues. Additionally, an oral quiz assessed knowledge and encouraged learning on various topics, including non-ophthalmology subjects. Notably, Aravind-Coimbatore hosted a debate competition that engaged participants in stimulating discussions. For MLOPs, the events included a preliminary skills test followed by a clue-based treasure hunt competition at Aravind-Madurai. The weeklong programme concluded with the final round of the MLOP skills test. Winners of the various competitions were awarded books related to their fields, recognising their exceptional performance.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 21^st July 2024

Aravind-Pondicherry organised a one-day programme to enhance the diagnostic skills of postgraduates from various hospitals through expert-led sessions and hands-on workshops. The key focus of the immersive programme included, Fundus Fluorescein Angiography, Macular OCT, B-Scan, Humphrey Visual Field Analysis, OCT Optic Nerve Head, Orbscan, Pentacam, Hess/Diplopia Charting, Visually Evoked Potential, and Electroretinogram. Additionally, the afternoon session featured a lively Kahoot quiz won by Dr. Anahita Shroff, DNB Resident, Aravind-Chennai, Dr. Preetika from Sree Balaji Medical College, Chennai, and Dr. Rathina Murare, MS Resident, Aravind-Madurai.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 17^th July 2024

The 115^th Vision Centre of the AECS in Kilpennathur, Tiruvannamalai district, was inaugurated by former District Governor MJF Ln. Dr. G. Narasimhan. During the event, Dr. R. Venkatesh, CMO, Aravind-Pondicherry, highlighted the purpose of the vision centres and their crucial role in providing eye care to the community. This centre is the 19th under Aravind-Pondicherry, further extending its service reach. On the first day, 85 patients were examined, and 15 were referred to the base hospital for further evaluation.

Aravind-Madurai, 23^rd July – 9^th August 2024

As part of the Resident Social Responsibility (RSR) programme, postgraduate residents from Aravind-Madurai joined hands with the Suvadugal Organisation to organise a self-awareness event at various government schools in Madurai.

On 23^rd July 2024, the RSR programme was held at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Mahaboopalayam, Madurai. Dr. Manoj gave an awareness talk on academic success and self-management, while Dr. Evangeline spoke about eye health awareness and hygiene. During the event, 20 selected girls from the 9^th and 11^th grades received educational kits containing a bag, notebooks, a pen kit, a tiffin box, a water bottle, and a set of uniforms.

Similarly, on 30^th July 2024, the RSR programme was conducted at Kaakkai Padiniyar Girls Higher Secondary School in Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai. Backiyaraj, a Suvadugal member, delivered the welcome address, followed by a brief talk by Dr. Sudha on general eye care. Dr. Subhashini, a gynaecologist, discussed menstrual hygiene. Twenty students were provided with the educational kits.

Finally, on 9^th August 2024, first-year residents visited Velli Veediyar Girls Higher Secondary School in Arapalayam, Madurai and distributed school essentials to 20 children. Dr. Shobhana gave a talk on the importance of eye care to the students.

Aravind- Tirunelveli/Coimbatore, 9^th and 12^th August 2024

On August 9^th, Aravind-Tirunelveli organised an event at the Vision Rehabilitation Centre where 57 Smart Vision Glasses were provided to patients with severe visual impairments. These Smart Vision Pro glasses, an assistive AI device for the visually challenged developed by Smart Health Global, were sponsored by Jiven Charitable Trust, a global non-profit organisation.

The event was led by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Dr. R. Meenakshi, and Dr. Fathima, Medical Consultant, Vision Rehabilitation Centre, the Low Vision Aids (LVA) programme, with participation from members of the Rotary Club of Madras East. Ramakrishnan, a former President of the Rotary Club of Madras East, spoke about the project. Madhavan, CEO, JM Fintech India Private Ltd. & Jiven Trust, elaborated about their CSR activities. Ibrahim, an AI engineer from Smart Health Global, Bengaluru, introduced the smart vision glasses and demonstrated their features. A video showcasing the milestones of the Vision Rehabilitation Centre was played, followed by a presentation by Dr. Fathima, who discussed the organisation’s services. Ibrahim then registered the devices with the beneficiaries’ smartphones and provided training on how to use the various features of the Smart Vision Glasses.

On August 12^th, a similar event was organised by Aravind-Coimbatore, where 26 Smart Vision Pro glasses, sponsored by Vision Aid, a global non-profit organisation, were distributed. Dr. Kalpana Narendran, Senior Medical Officer at Aravind-Coimbatore, led the event, with participation from Devi, Head, Vision Rehabilitation, Vision Aid, Dr. Sandra Ganesh, Medical Consultant, Vision Rehabilitation Centre, Aravind-Coimbatore, and Ibrahim.

The event featured a video highlighting the achievements of the Vision Rehabilitation Centre. Devi from Vision Aid spoke about the organisation’s services. An inspiring speech was delivered by Mubashira, a beneficiary, and Ananda Saravanan shared his experiences as a digital resource trainer at Aravind Eye Hospitals. Ibrahim concluded the event by registering the smart vision glasses with the beneficiaries’ smartphones.

Aravind-Madurai, 10^th August 2024

The International Association of Lions Clubs – District 324 B organised the Sight First Seminar in association with the AECS. Hosted by Aravind-Madurai, this annual seminar aimed to raise awareness about blindness and visual impairment among the newly elected office bearers for the year 2024-2025 and members.

The programme began with a welcome address by Ln. K. Arunakiri. PMJF Lion Dr. A. Sashikumar, District Governor of District 324 B, delivered the inaugural address, followed by a felicitation speech by PDG MJF Lion S. Murugesamoorthy. Dr. R. Kim, CMO, Aravind-Madurai, delivered the keynote address.

The seminar featured various scientific sessions, led by Dr. A. Kowsalya, Medical Consultant, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Aravind-Madurai, R. Meenakshi  Sundaram, Senior Manager, Clinical Services, Aravind-Madurai, and D. Saravanan, Manager, Eye Bank, Aravind-Madurai. Dr. Kowsalya presented on common eye problems and the impact of diabetes on vision. R. Meenakshi Sundaram acknowledged the Lions Club’s contributions to eliminating preventable blindness and discussed how the newly elected officebearers could further support this mission. D. Saravanan shared important facts about eye donation and strategies to enhance donor rates with Lions Club support in 2024-2025.

PMJF Ln. CA. D. Selvam, First Vice District Governor, and PMJF Ln. Dr. N. Arumugam, Second vice District Governor, shared their observations and urged all Lions members to increase outreach programmes and promote awareness on eye donation. The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks by MJF Ln. K. Thangadurai.

A total of 139 participants from Madurai and Sivagangai districts, including past District Governors, attended the seminar. The event was organised by MJF Ln. K. Arunakiri, District Chairperson for Sight First. Notably, this awareness seminar has been conducted annually for over two decades.

Aravind-Chennai, 10-11 August 2024

A two-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on Dacryology was conducted at ARCORE in Aravind-Chennai. Dr. Mohammed Javed Ali, Head of the Department of Dacryology at LV Prasad Eye Institute, India, and a pioneer in the lacrimal drainage system, was the chief guest. The programme featured enlightening talks by Dr. Javed Ali and other dignitaries, including Dr. Usha Kim, Chief, Orbit & Oculoplasty Services, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. Purushothaman, an ENT and skull base surgeon, and Dr. Jayashree B, Chief, Orbit & Oculoplasty, Aravind-Chennai. Dr. Usha Kim delivered talks on topics such as, The significance of lacrimal system evaluation, epidemiology of CDC, and A surgical master class featuring live surgery. Participants also presented challenging cases for discussion. The second day included an interactive, hands-on live surgical demonstration of probing and endoscopic DCR by Dr. Javed Ali.

Aravind-Salem, 14^th July

Aravind-Salem organised the CME with participation from 74 doctors. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. B. Manohar Babu, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Salem, Dr. V.R. Saravanan, Chief, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Coimbatore, Dr. Karthick Srinivasan, Medical Consultant, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Chennai, and representatives from the Salem Ophthalmic Association. The event featured 14 talks, five case presentations by postgraduates, a hands-on demonstration session, and OSCEs, comprehensively covering the key topics in detail. The event was moderated by senior faculty members in the field of Retina and Vitreous services across various institutions. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. K. Hemalatha, Medical Consultant, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Salem.

Aravind-Salem, 10^th July

The 114^th Vision Centre of the AECS in Harur Taluk, Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu, was inaugurated by Dr. Jayaraman, Ophthalmologist, in the presence of Dr. Manohar Babu, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Salem, and A.K.P. Moorthi, Correspondent, Indian Matric School, Harur. The event was also attended by camp sponsors representing Lions Club, Harur, including T. Rajendran, Theerthamalai, and Nethaji, along with other well-wishers. This centre was the ninth vision centre under Aravind-Salem, marking an expansion of its service area. On the inaugural day, the centre screened 97 patients, a successful start in providing primary eye care services to the local population.

Aravind-Chennai, 5^th July

Organised by Aravind-Chennai, the retreat was attended by 32 participants from all Aravind Tertiary Eye Care Centres, including Head of the Department, Medical officers, Research coordinators, MLOPs – OT & OPD, Wet lab & IOL clinic coordinators. The guest speaker was Dr. Jeff Pettey, Professor & Clinical Vice-Chair of the Moran Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah. The retreat provided a common platform for sharing and learning from one another, fostering ongoing improvement in the quality of care for cataract patients.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 28-30 June

The three-day programme held at Aravind-Coimbatore saw participation from over 200 residents from across the country. Inaugurated by Dr. Prashant Bawankule, Chairman, AIOS ARC, and Dr. Shrinivas Joshi, Member, AIOS ARC, South Zone, the programme featured 50 insightful lectures by both internal and external faculty members. The event included hands-on workshops and interactive sessions, fostering an environment of learning and professional growth. Additionally, six dry lab sessions were conducted by 18 faculty members. Dr. Usha Kim served as a speaker, presenting a topic on “Lid Margin Anomalies” and as a panellist during a session on Orbit/Oculoplasty.

Aravind-Tirupati, 28^th June

As part of the “My Life My Pride” initiative led by Veni, Administrator, LAICO, MLOPs have been trained in Taekwondo and dance classes according to their choice for over a 6 – month period. The Taekwondo trainees took the grade exam for Yellow-1 and Green belt on 2^nd June 2024. Over a period of six months training, they received three belts which was commemorated with a certificate awarding ceremony on 28^th June 2024. Anupama who handled life skill classes, distributed certificates for the yellow belt. Additionally, the dance students completed their six months course, received certificates during the same occasion. The programme also featured an entertaining show by the Taekwondo and dance students, performing various dance show, kicking techniques, sparring, and tile breaking.

Moreover, MLOPs holding Green Belt have won three gold medals, and one silver medal at the KYORUGI CHAMPIONSHIP 2024 held on 14th July 2024, showcasing their talent. Further, they were selected for the district level competition.

Aravind-Chennai, 21^st June

Aravind-Chennai opened ARCORE, a cutting-edge training facility, to share Aravind’s significant expertise in eye care. ARCORE will facilitate hybrid skill enhancement through various courses that combine virtual and hands-on sessions, as well as observation. It will increase global connectivity by broadening learning horizons through classroom and recorded lectures, live streaming sessions, live wet lab streaming, and a comprehensive reference library. Global leaders such as Alcon, Zeiss, Aurolab, and Essilor are industry partners for ARCORE.

Padma Shri Prof. Dr. Jeewan S. Titiyal, Chief, Dr. R.P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences & Dean Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, inaugurated ARCORE in the presence of Rtn. Ravi Raman, District Governor, Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, AECS, Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, AECS, Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman & Director – Quality, AECS, Dr. Aravind S, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Chennai, & Director Projects, AECS, and Dr. Haripriya Aravind, Chief, Cataract Services, Aravind-Chennai.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 21^st June

In celebration of International Yoga Day, Ramasamy, a yoga instructor from Valga Valamudan with nearly 25 years of experience, taught Yoga for MLOPs on basic Yoga Asanas, meditation, and pranayama for a healthier and stress-free life. Additionally, two female yoga instructors from Valga Valamudan provided training. The participants found the session very useful and enjoyable.

Aravind-Salem, 2nd June

The one-day CME for ophthalmologists, postgraduates, and microbiologists was held at Hotel Radisson in Salem. The CME focused on the role of conventional and molecular methods for microbial identification in diagnosing ocular infections, along with interesting case scenarios. Dr. M. Srinivasan, Director Emeritus, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), delivered the keynote address on corneal infections. Insights were shared by internal faculty members including Dr. Viji Rangarajan, Chief, Orbit and Oculoplasty, Aravind – Coimbatore, Dr. Siddharth, Medical Consultant, Cataract and IOL Clinic, Aravind-Coimbatore, Dr. Ram Rammohan, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Coimbatore, Dr. Balamurugan Medical Consultant, Cataract Services, Aravind-Pondicherry, Dr. Suneetha Puneeth, Aravind-Salem, Dr. Anuja, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Salem, Dr. K. Hemalatha, Medical Consultant, Retina-Vitreous Services, Aravind-Salem, and Dr. B. Manohar Babu, CMO, Aravind-Salem. Case presentations were conducted by Dr. Kesav, Dr. Priyadarshini, Dr. Avdhoot, and Dr. Sivaranjini. Additionally, a competitive quiz programme with attractive prizes was conducted by Quiz Masters Dr. Saranya and Dr. Anand from Sankara Nethralaya Eye Hospital, Chennai. Seran, Manager,Patient Care, Aravind-Salem, led the organising team. The programme saw participation from around 80 individuals, including 11 faculty members.

Sivagangai, 4th June

The Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank (RAIEB), Aravind-Madurai conducted an awareness programme at the Government Primary Health Centre in Maravanmangalam, Sivagangai. D. Saravanan, Manager, RAIEB, led a session on the Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme, emphasising the role of healthcare professionals in promoting eye donation. The session was attended by 50 participants, including doctors and nurses.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 12th June

Organised by Aravind Coimbatore in association with the Coimbatore Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons (CSOS), at IMA Hall, Coimbatore, the CME featured three sessions: PG’s Case Presentations, Neuro Ophthal, and Retina. The sessions were interactive and received positive feedback from participants. The event saw participation from 90 delegates, including PGs and practitioners from Aravind-Coimbatore, CSOS members, and 18 internal and external faculty members.

 Aravind-Chennai, 31st May

Aravind-Chennai organised “Sarithira Sangamam,” a monthly event for MLOPs, featuring various activities. Dr. Usha Raghavan, Project Consultant, delivered a speech on mythology and epics, highlighting facts, beliefs, and illusions from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, emphasising the importance of moral stories. This was followed by a Thirukkural quiz covering five chapters. Participants were divided into three teams: Literature, Myths, and Epics.

Aravind-Tirupati, 28th May

SV Aravind Eye Hospital, Tirupati, opened its first Eye Clinic in Puttur, Tirupati District, Andra Pradesh. Dr. K. Srinivasulu Reddy, Civil Surgeon (Retd.), inaugurated the clinic in the presence of R.D. Thulasiraj, Director Operations, AECS, Dr. Ashok Vardhan, CMO, Aravind-Tirupati, Sri Keshav Kumar, Manager, Administration and Finance, Aravind-Tirupati, Damien Jacob, Manager, Patient Care, and V. Vasudeva Reddy, Camp Manager. The new clinic will benefit Puttur and the surrounding villages.

Aravind-Dindigul, 27th May

Aravind-Dindigul observed Myopia Awareness Week by displaying awareness posters and charts created by MLOPs in the Outpatient Department and entrance areas of the hospital to educate the public about myopia prevention.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 19th May

The one-day CME focused on “Exploring Lapses in Uveitis Management” began with a welcome address by Dr. S. Balamurugan, Chief, Uvea Services, Aravind-Pondicherry. The CME featured various sessions handled by Dr. Parthopratim Dutta Majumder from Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, along with internal speakers. Dr. S.R. Rathinam, Chief, Uvea Services, Aravind-Madurai, shared captivating insights on the discovery of organisms like Leptospirosis, Trematodes, and the West Nile virus during various outbreaks.

The Objectively Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) session in Uveitis management was led by Dr. Naveen and Dr. Radhika, followed by an exciting quiz contest, “Kaun Banega Uveapati,” conducted by Dr. Parthopratim Dutta Majumder. Dr. Subhashini from Aravind-Pondicherry won first prize, while Dr. Aahan Shah from JIPMER, Pondicherry, and Dr. Prabhu Krishna from Aravind-Pondicherry secured the first and second runner-up positions, respectively.

Dr. Radhika, Aravind-Madurai, secured the first runner-up position for her image titled “Disseminated TB,” and Dr. Hari Bhadari secured the second runner-up position for his image titled “Sectoral Serpentine Atrophy.”

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Balamurugan. The CME saw the participation of 75 attendees.

Aravind-Chennai, 17th May

World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week is celebrated each year in the second week of May. This year, Aravind-Chennai organised its first Retinoblastoma Awareness programme, inviting families of children treated at Aravind-Chennai as guests to help spread the awareness message. The programme facilitated the family member to witness the progress of retinoblastoma survivors. In addition, there was a dance performance by the little champions. The programme concluded with the distribution of gifts and prizes.

Aravind-Madurai, 1st June

At Aravind-Madurai,  the annual survivors’ meet was conducted for children who have overcome retinoblastoma. Dr. Usha Kim, Chief, Orbit, Aravind-Madurai, welcomed the gathering and highlighted several achievements: around 800 retinoblastoma patients saved, 7 Ph.Ds completed on retinoblastoma, 543 screenings conducted, and 305 genetic PROH-band markers identified in 41 families. She also mentioned 35 low vision aids and 5 smart vision glasses were provided to low vision patients. The event featured motivational talks by retinoblastoma survivors who have achieved significant positions in life as government staff, lecturers, engineers, doctors, and more. Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, AECS, highlighted Aravind’s efforts in bringing foreign technology in RB treatment at an affordable rate. Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, AECS, discussed Aravind’s efforts in combining research and modern technology to provide maximum care to patients. Prof. K. Dharmalingam stressed Aravind’s involvement in employing preventive methods using predictive biomarkers and its continuous care for patients. Dr. P. Namperumalsamy and Dr. G. Natchiar, Director-Emeritus, AECS, honoured Janani, mother of the late Arunkarthick who lost his life due to a rare type of eye cancer, for her benevolence. The programme was attended by 200 children with their parents and siblings, making a total of 600 participants. The survivors and their families were provided with sumptuous food, and children were given attractive gifts

Aravind-Madurai, 13-25 May

Aravind-Madurai organised a summer camp at Nithyatha, Aurolab for the children of staff members from Aravind Eye Hospital, AMRF, and Aurolab. A total of 42 children, including five volunteers and 37 children from classes 1st to 8th, participated. The camp was divided into two batches: 24 children from classes 1st to 4th attended from 13 to 18 May, and 13 children from classes 5th to 8th attended from 20 to 25 May. The theme of the camp was “Mindfulness.” Activities included nature journaling, mask making, farm visits, salad making, trekking, plantable paper seed making, and story building. Each day began with breathing exercises and an icebreaker activity and ended with reflection time. The programme provided an opportunity for children to develop new skills and crucial life skills such as team building and problem-solving.

Aravind-Madurai, March-April 2024

The survey conducted by Aravind-Madurai in Sivaganga district focused on the prevalence of cataracts, refractive errors, and service uptake. The main objectives were to test the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB7) method in the Indian population, specifically in Tamil Nadu, and to validate the feasibility of incorporating near-vision screening into RAAB7. Developed at the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH), London, UK, the RAAB is a rapid survey methodology designed to assess blindness and visual impairment in people aged 50 and above. The new component of the current RAAB7 included near-vision screening and an assessment of enablers and barriers to the use of near-vision eyeglasses. RAAB7 employs digital data collection along with the use of an integrated Peek Acuity Mobile Application for visual acuity measure.

Prior to starting the survey, a three-day training programme was provided to the survey team by Dr. Sandeep Buttan, a certified RAAB Trainer from Dr. Shroff Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi. During the programme, Dr. Chandrakumar, Project Director, Tamil Nadu State Blindness Control Society, delivered a keynote address and shared insights on conducting the RAAB6 survey.

During the survey, the team examined 3,582 people aged 50 years and above from 77 different locations. The findings suggest that one-fourth of the surveyed population required some form of eye care and were referred to eye care facilities. If proven, the near vision screening could be integrated into the existing RAAB method, thereby enhancing its benefits for a broader global population.

Aravind-Madurai, 25th April

Organised by Aravind-Madurai, the CME focused on the basics of Genetics in Ophthalmology, specifically on Glaucoma, Retinoblastoma, and Pediatric Eye diseases. Additionally, there were discussions on emerging potential applications of genetic research in glaucoma, with special emphasis on gene therapy and genetic counselling for eye diseases. The panel of external faculty members, including Dr. Arif O. Khan, Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, and Dr. A.S. Karthikeyan, Dennis Lam Eye Hospital, China, along with faculty from LV Prasad Eye Institute, Narayana Nethralaya, and AIIMS, Delhi, actively participated in the discussions. The CME was awarded 2 credit hours by the Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC). A total of 74 delegates, including 15 faculty members, 34 research scholars, and 25 doctors, attended this programme

Aravind-Madurai, 26-28 April

The CME aimed to explore newer horizons in the management of glaucoma, highlighting the continuing relevance of Trabeculectomy and its complications with management, Glaucoma Drainage Devices (GDD) and their surgical techniques and complications with management, and the potential role of minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS), and non-penetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS). Delegates from all over India, representing various institutions, attended the CME and provided valuable inputs. The programme was authorised for 3 credit hours by TNMC. A total of 137 delegates, including 40 faculty members, attended this programme. Additionally, wet lab training practices were conducted on Trabeculectomy, GDD, NPDS, and MIGS for the registered candidates and all internal Glaucoma consultants. They also earned an additional 3 credit hours from TNMC for the wet lab session.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 21 April

Aravind-Pondicherry organised the Symposium, a first of its kind with the aim of delving deep into the psyche of GenZ. It explored how GenZ differ and what new strategies can be incorporated to engage them in learning. The session started with a welcome address by Dr. R. Venkatesh, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Pondicherry. The programme featured insightful sessions by Dr. Naveen Radhakrishnan, Dr. Annapurna Kumar, Dr. Pranesh Balasubramaniam, Prof. N. Ananthakrishnan, Dr. Sudha, Dr. Deepak Megur, Dr. Pavan Kumar, Dr. Mahalakshmi, and Dr. Prasanna Venkatesh. The session concluded with a few skill transfer courses on surgical video editing, effective PowerPoint presentations, and how to use social media for the advantage.

Aravind-Madurai, 11-13 April

Aravind-Madurai organised two workshops as part of Training the Trainers. The first one-day workshop held on 11th April aimed to teach the trainers Life Skill Programmes for MLOPs. Ariara Velan, Founder, Thalir Thiran Thittam (TTT), and Bhaskaran, Tamil Nadu State Head, TTT, conducted sessions on how to handle the Life skill programmes.
The second workshop was a two-day event, organised on 12 and 13 April 2024, for the MLOP Academic team of Aravind Eye Hospitals, comprising MLOP Doctor In-charge-2, MLOP Superintendent-2, Academic Coordinators, Academic Managers, and Tutors from each department. The objective of the workshop was to bring ‘Role Clarification’ among the different academic teams and train them in effective administration skills.
The programme included various sessions on Sharing best practices at each centre, Role clarity & key performance indicators, Mentoring, How to conduct rounds, Importance of logbooks and documentation, Training slow learners, How to conduct general orientation effectively, Overview of academic calendar and monthly planning, and Auroshiksha Reports. The team also engaged in reviewing the yearly calendar of their department and finalising the skill set for the first year of the training programme. The Programme concluded with action points and suggestions by Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, AECS, and Dr. Usha Kim, Regional HR Director, AECS. About 64 participants from all hospitals participated in the workshops.

Aravind-Madurai, 7^th April

The Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Association (TNOA) organised TNOA Gurukulam @ 2.1: A Postgraduate Refresher Meet in collaboration with the Madurai Ophthalmologists Association (MOA) at Aravind-Madurai. The event commenced with a warm welcome address by Dr. Usha Kim, Regional Director of HR, followed by the Presidential Address delivered by Dr. T. Nirmal Fredrick, President of TNOA.
The programme featured scientific discussions held in two separate halls to accommodate all registered postgraduates. Eminent faculty from Government and Private Colleges presented exam-oriented lectures, providing valuable insights for postgraduates pursuing degrees in ophthalmology. Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, President of MOA, extended gratitude to the office bearers of TNOA, MOA, and all participants.
The symposium garnered significant attendance, with a total of 201 participants, including faculty and postgraduates.

Aravind-Salem, 5^th April

The eighth vision centre of Aravind-Salem, marking the 113th centre for the Aravind Eye Care System, was opened in Thalaivasal, Salem. The centre was inaugurated by Subburaman, Founder, Ayyappan Bhajana Mandali, Dr. Selvam, Chief Doctor, Karthik Nursing Home, Dr. A.K. Ramasamy, Secretary, Bharathiyar College of Education, Jagathesan, President, Attur Aadhavan Lions Club, Chandran and Shankar, representatives from Lions Club. The leadership team of Aravind-Salem, including Dr. B. Manohar Babu, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Salem, Dr. R. Sankarananthan, Medical Consultant, and Dr. Supraja, Medical Consultant, as well as the hospital staff, participated in the inaugural event. On the first day, approximately 97 patients underwent screening at the centre.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 5^th April

The Remidio fundus camera at the free outpatient section was inaugurated by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, in the presence of Dr. S. Padmavathy, Regional HR Director.

Aravind-Madurai, 31^st March

In observance of World Glaucoma Week, Aravind-Madurai, in collaboration with the Ophthalmologists Association, organised a symposium on the Basics of Clinical Perimetry. Dr. K. Naresh Babu, Chief, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Madurai, welcomed the gathering, and Dr. R. Kim, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Madurai, delivered the inaugural address. The invited guest faculty, Dr. Gudimetla Ramachandra Reddy, Ophthalmologist, Dr. G.R. Reddy Eye Care Centre, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh, delivered a keynote address on Structure function correlations, and engaged in interactive discussions on complex concepts in Perimetry, being authored the textbook on Perimetry. Additionally, Dr. A. Vijayalakshmi, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Madurai, discussed the Perimetric interpretation of glaucomatous visual fields. The symposium was attended by a total of 119 participants, including faculty and postgraduates.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 17-23 March

During World Optometry Week from 17 to 23 March, Aravind-Tirunelveli organised a series of programmes and activities. On 19th March, a session on “Newly introduced lenses and troubleshooting” was conducted for both Refractionists and optical staff by Essilor Company.
The following day featured a session titled “Updates in refraction”, organised for optical staff by Ayirathammal, Senior supervisor, Refraction, Selvi, Senior refractionist, and Uma Parvathi, Senior refractionist.
Additionally, on 21st March, a session on “Updates in lenses, frames, and grinding” was organised for refraction staff by Parvathi, Senior optical refractionist, and Ram Karthika, Senior optical staff.
On 22nd March, an awareness exhibition showcasing informative charts and display models was inaugurated by Dr. R. Meenakshi, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirunelveli, in the presence of Dr. S. Padmavathy, Regional HR Director.
Furthermore, a quiz programme was conducted with enthusiastic participation from Refraction and Optical staff. Additionally, skill and theory exams were held for all Refractionists. Dr. R. Meenakshi and Dr. S. Padmavathy presented the winners with prizes.

10-16 March

Aravind-Tirunelveli

In observance of World Glaucoma Week at Aravind-Tirunelveli, a series of activities were conducted to raise glaucoma awareness.
A human chain programme was held in front of the hospital, graced by the presence of Venkatesh, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli, and Dr. N. Subramanian, President, the Indian Medical Association, Tirunelveli Branch.
A glaucoma awareness exhibition for the public was inaugurated by Thiru. Venkatesh and Dr. N. Subramanian. The exhibition featured informative posters detailing various types of glaucoma, its causes, symptoms, and hereditary factors. Furthermore, a press conference was organised, and informational pamphlets and notices were distributed among the public.
Moreover, Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, and Dr. Mohideen Abdul Kadar, Chief, Retina Vitreous, Aravind-Tirunelveli, delivered talks on glaucoma awareness via All India Radio, broadcasted throughout the week.
In addition, a mega glaucoma camp was held at Aravind-Kovilpatti on 6th March. During the camp, 452 patients underwent screenings, resulting in the identification of 38 new cases of glaucoma, while 78 individuals were recommended for cataract surgery.

Aravind-Tirupati

As part of World Glaucoma Week, an exhibition was organised at Aravind-Tirupati, aimed at raising awareness about preventable vision conditions. Queries were addressed by MLOPs, emphasising the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. The exhibition facilitated understanding of glaucoma’s early symptoms, the tubular vision and its occurrence, encouraging attendees to undergo eye check-ups. Additionally, the District Medical & Health Officer visited the hospital, and delivered an awareness speech on glaucoma diagnosis and treatment to patients. Family screenings for glaucoma were conducted, and a screening camp was held at Zoopark, Tirupati.

8^th March

Across all Aravind centres, the Women’s day was celebrated with enthusiasm, featuring a range of events such as special talks, physical fitness activities, Kolam competitions, and various fun games. The festivities made the day a memorable occasion, honouring and empowering women in the workplace.

Aravind-Madurai

Several Women’s Day activities were organised at Aravind-Madurai, including a special talk by Bathmavathi, Sub-Inspector of Police, Madurai, and Selvi Rani, Brahma Kumari. Additionally, various physical fitness activities were arranged for all female employees at LAICO.

Aravind-Tirunelveli

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, Aravind-Tirunelveli organised talks on the theme “Inspire Inclusion,” featuring three guests: Benazir Fathima, Entrepreneur and home baker; Valli, an auto driver; and Sornam, an Entrepreneur, beautician, and artist. They shared real-life examples of life challenges and spoke on how they overcame them to achieve success.

Aravind-Coimbatore

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Aravind-Coimbatore hosted a session on “Holistic Health for Today’s Women” in collaboration with the Adolescent Health Academy (AHA) of Tamil Nadu and the Coimbatore branch of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP). The event commenced with Dr. Sandra Ganesh introducing the esteemed speakers, and Dr. Lakshmi Shanthi, President, IAP, presiding over the proceedings. Dr. Jeyashree Ashwathi, Secretary, AHA, Tamil Nadu, delivered an insightful talk on “Reproductive Health”, followed by Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Treasurer, AHA & Vice President, Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Kanyakumari, who provided valuable insights on nutrition and fitness. Lastly, Dr. Mohammed Ismail, Director, the Adolescent Health Academy, Tamil Nadu, delivered a special lecture on “Coping with Stress in Daily Life”.

Aravind-Pondicherry

Aravind-Pondicherry observed International Women’s Day with special talks and engaging games. A highlight of the day was a special pattimandram chaired by Karpagambal, a recipient of the Dr. Radhakrishnan Best Teacher award, making it a memorable occasion. The day was further enriched by a captivating speech from Dr. A. Muthamma, I.A.S., who shared her invaluable experiences on women empowerment across various fields.

Aravind-Tirupati

At Aravind-Tirupati, Women’s Day was celebrated with an Art from Waste competition themed “Celebrating Women”. Sasi Bindu Garu, a lawyer and external member of the Internal Complaints Committee, as the chief guest, delivered a talk emphasising steps towards creating an inclusive workplace. The programme concluded with a quiz competition organised by Aurosambaralu.

Aravind-Dindigul, 2^nd March

Organised by Aravind-Dindigul with the support of Aravind-Madurai, 50 smart vision glasses were provided to beneficiaries at Aravind Eye Hospital, Dindigul, as part of Project Drishti. This initiative was made possible through collaboration with the Rotary Club, Madras East and a donation from JM Frictech India.

Dr. Rekha, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Dindigul, delivered a warm welcome address, followed by a felicitation address by Dr. P. Vijayalakshmi, Senior Medical Consultant, Vision Rehabilitation Centre, Aravind-Madurai. Dr. R. Vigneshwar, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Dindigul was present during the occasion. Jeyaseeli Flora, Vision Rehabilitationist, and Muthuramalingam from the Refraction Department, Aravind-Madurai, coordinated the event.

Aravind-Theni, 26^th February

Aravind-Theni opened the Low Vision Clinic, a small initiative primarily focused on adult rehabilitation. Dr. P. Vijayalakshmi,  Dr. Datta, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Theni, and Jeyaseeli Flora, inaugurated the clinic. On the opening day, approximately 10 patients visited the clinic and received counselling about various Low Vision Aids and their benefits.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 26^th February

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, and Dr. Meenakshi, CMO, Aravind-Tirunelveli, jointly inaugurated the fully automated Selectra ProM machine at the biochemistry lab.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 25^th February

Aravind-Pondicherry celebrated its hospital day in a grand manner. The event was graced by the presence of Dr. R. Kim, CMO, Aravind-Madurai. Dr. Naveen presented the annual report, highlighting a 2% increase in the annual patient turnout. Dr. R. Kim, and Dr. R. Venkatesh, CMO, Aravind-Pondicherry, gave the service awards, recognising the dedicated service of staff members completing 10, 20, and 30 years of experience.

Dr. S. Kavitha, Chief, Glaucoma Services, was awarded first prize, while Dr. Manavi D. Sindal, Chief, Retina-Vitrous Services, and Dr. Josephine Christy, Chief, Cornea & Refractive Surgery Services, received second prize for their research activities. Furthermore, Dr. Nandita and Dr. Ojus were honoured with the “Inspiring Innovators Award” for their creation of the device “UVlyser”, securing the third position. The celebration also featured cultural performances, including dances by the children of doctors, dance by MLOPs, a musical fusion by doctors, and a mesmerising shadow art display.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 22^nd February

Eral Vision Centre has been shifted to a new building following damages incurred by recent floods at the previous location. A small inaugural ceremony was held, graced by the presence of several dignitaries, including Sundar, Secretary, Trade Union; Arunachalam, Association Treasurer, Lions Club & Trade; Dharmara, Vice President, Trade Union; Sudalaimuthu, a Trade Union Member; Mahalakshmi, Ward Councillor; Sivabalan, a local businessman; and the community members. Representatives from Aravind-Tirunelveli, including Dr. Jaisri Priya, Dr. Karthikeyan, and Shanmuga Sundari, Clinical Manager, Vision Centres, Raja Sathya Selvi, Nursing Superintendent, Saradha, Patient Care Manager, Stephen, Vision Centre Coordinator, and Natarajan, Electrician, actively managed the event.

Aravind-Tirupati, 24^th February

As part of the “My Life My Pride” initiative spearheaded by G. Krishna Veni, Administrator, LAICO, MLOPs have been undergoing training in a variety of extracurricular activities, including Taekwondo and dance. After completing two months of training, and following a grading exam for the yellow belt on 4^th February, a certificate award ceremony was held on 24^th February. Anupama, who conducts life skill classes for the MLOPs, and Dr. Ashok Vardhan, CMO, Aravind-Tirupati, distributed the certificates and yellow belts. Sangeetha, Nursing Superintendent, provided an overview of the MLOP committees such as wellness, hostel, academic, and My Life My Pride as well as their responsibilities. This approach fosters a sense of shared ownership between management and MLOPs, symbolised by badges, offering a sense of pride. During the feedback session, several MLOPs shared how the “My Life My Pride” programme has significantly boosted their self-confidence, empowering them to feel bolder when travelling alone. The event also featured captivating performances by both the dance and Taekwondo students.

Aravind-Tirupati, 23^rd February

In an on-going effort to train MLOPs and raise awareness about the importance of spectacles and proper medication usage among both the public and staff, the optical and pharmacy departments collaborated to organise a one-day exhibition. The exhibition attracted patients and staff, who expressed their appreciation for the team’s initiatives.

Aravind-Madurai, 22^nd February

Aravind-Madurai organised Angaadi, a unique charity event where all employees donated their unused items. These items were categorised and sold at different stalls, creating a fun shopping experience exclusively for hospital employees. Additionally, auctions, fun games, and food stalls were arranged. The funds raised through the sale of these items were donated to Adaikalam Old Age Home, Tirunagar, Madurai, and Blessed Special Kids Home, Vilangudi, Madurai.

Aravind-Salem, 22^nd February

Boomi Pooja ceremony for the new hospital building and quarters in Aravind-Salem took place, graced by the presence of esteemed guests including Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, AECS, R.D. Thulasiraj, Executive Director, LAICO, Dr. S. Aravind, CMO, Aravind-Chennai, and the senior leadership team. The new building, spanning 2.25 lakh sq. ft., will be constructed on a 7-acre plot of land. Dr. B. Manohar Babu, CMO, Aravind-Salem, thanked the senior leadership team for expediting the project, which is expected to be completed within 1.5 years in 2026.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 18^th February

The one-day Retina4U CME organised by Aravind-Pondicherry, focusing on Intravitreal injections, was led by Dr. Manavi D. Sindal,  Dr. Sivaranjani, Retina Consultant, and the organising committee. The event was graced by Dr. Hannah, Consultant, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Science, Dr. Roshini Mohan, Retina Consultant, Agarwals Eye Hospital, Chennai, Dr. Nagesha, Retina Consultant, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, and Dr. Sivaranjani.

The programme commenced with the welcome address by Dr. R. Venkatesh, followed by ceremonial lamp lighting. The conference featured talks by speakers from leading institutes and internal speakers including, Dr. Manavi D Sindal, Dr. Prabu Baskaran, Dr. Sivaranjani, and Dr. Preet Kanwar Singh Sodhi. A wide spectrum of topics in Intravitreal injections such as retinal vascular disorder, age-related macular degeneration, inflammations, and infections including the intravitreal injection technique were discussed in detail. A total of 117 participants comprising ophthalmologists, fellows, and postgraduates from various colleges attended the CME.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 18^th February

The 5^th edition of the CME on “Dry labs for postgraduates” organised by Aravind-Coimbatore saw the participation of 190 delegates from 36 institutions from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. The delegates were divided into nine groups and rotated to nine stations namely cornea, glaucoma, retina 1, retina 2, neuro-ophthalmology, squint, orbit, retinoscopy and electrophysiological studies. There were 12 mentors guiding 20 faculty members, and conducting the dry labs. A booklet with 17 write-ups was given to the delegates. Dr. V. Narendran, CMO, Aravind-Coimbatore, was the chairperson of the organising committee and Dr. D. Chandrasekhar, Consultant & NABH Coordinator as well as Dr. Parag Shah, Chief, Paediatric Retina & Ocular Oncology Services were the coordinators. The Programme was accredited with two hours for delegates and three hours for faculty by the Tamil Nadu Medical Council.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 17^th February

Aravind-Tirunelveli celebrated its 36th Hospital day with great jubilation. Esteemed guests Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Dr. G. Natchiar, R.D. Thulasiraj, and Chitra Thulasiraj, Aravind Communications,  graced the occasion.

The programme commenced with a prayer song by Nandhini. Dr. R. Meenakshi welcomed the gathering. Dr. Sherin Haroon, Medical consultant, presented the activity report for the year 2022-2023. During the occasion, a milestone video showcasing Aravind-Tirunelveli’s journey was screened. Dr. R. Ramakrishnan delivered a special address, and Jagatheesan, a well-wisher of Aravind Eye Hospital, shared his journey with Aravind.

Dr. P. Namperumalsamy and Dr. G. Natchiar delivered motivational speeches, leaving a lasting impact on all present. Service Awards were given to staff members, acknowledging their dedication and contributions. The event was further adorned with cultural programmes performed by doctors and MLOPs. Dr. R. Madhavi, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services delivered the vote of thanks. Lakshmi R, HR Manager, led the proceedings as the master of the ceremony. The delightful evening concluded with dinner.

Madurai, 13^th February

Conducted by the Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank (RAIEB), Aravind-Madurai, the session took place at the Primary Health Centre in Kannagudi, Sivagangai. D. Saravanan, Manager, RAIEB, led the session focusing on the Hospital cornea retrieval programme and highlighting the significance of healthcare professionals in promoting eye donation. The session saw active participation from 40 attendees, including doctors and nurses.

Aravind-Madurai, 9^th February

Aravind inaugurated its 112th vision centre in Samayanallur, Madurai, with the ceremony officiated by Dr. Usha Kim, Regional HR Director, Aravind-Madurai.

The event witnessed the esteemed presence of Dr. A. Kowsalya, Doctor In charge, Madurai Vision Centre, and Dr. Priyagini, Medical Consultant, Aravind-Madurai, Saikat Palit, Project Coordinator, Seva Foundation, along with the community members including, Tambi Durai, Panchayat President, Samayanallur, Bagavath Singh, Trade Union President, Vivagananthan, Camp Sponsor, and Murugesan, Camp Organisers.

Under the coordination of Begam, MLOP HR Coordinator, alongside Jhansi, Pitchaimeena, and Aathi Parasakthi from the vision centre team, the event was effectively managed. Kalai Selvi, VC Coordinator from Sholavanthan Vision Centre, will provide mentorship and assistance to the new VC staff during their initial week. On the opening day, the centre attended to 67 patients, with 5 referred for cataract surgery, 10 prescribed eyeglasses, and 5 placing orders for glasses.

Aravind-Madurai, 3-4 February

Under the guidance of Dr. G. Natchiar, the first-ever meeting of the electrical maintenance staff was held at Aravind-Madurai with the aim to foster fellowship, discuss recent parameter audits, share experiences and outcomes, review lessons learned from incidents, discuss energy and cost-saving practices, promote environmental sustainability, and outline future development activities.

During the meeting, Dr. S.R. Krishnadas, Senior Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services at Aravind-Madurai, delivered a special address emphasising the significance of the electrical department in healthcare systems. A technical learning session was conducted by a resource person from L&T, a major electrical equipment manufacturer.

As part of the programme, participants were taken to Aravind-Madurai facilities, Aurolab, Aurofarm, and Nithyatha, along with visits to Meenakshi Amman temple and Alagarkovil temple. The session concluded with a brief meeting with Dr. G. Natchiar.

Aravind-Madurai, 1-2 February

The Central Office of HR, Aravind-Madurai, organised an HR Retreat attended by Regional HR Directors from various zones, MLOP Doctor In-Charge-1, and MLOP Superintendent-1 from all hospitals. Facilitated by the HR Team’s mentor, Cindy Harrison, Vice President, Human Resources, Henry Ford Health System, the retreat focused on strategic HR planning for 2024. The team’s engagement with external HR consultants last year, studying the employees’ perspectives, was presented as a report during the retreat. 

Aravind-Madurai, 12^th February

The Department of Cataract and IOL Services at Aravind-Madurai hosted the Cataract Retreat. The retreat aimed to facilitate discussions on current practices and identify opportunities for standardisation amidst evolving trends in cataract surgery. The event featured multiple sessions and discussions, leading in the formulation of a roadmap for future initiatives. This gathering brought together HODs, SMOs, and MLOPs from the IOL Departments of various Aravind centres.

Aravind-Madurai, 10-11 February

The Department of Cataract and IOL Services, Aravind-Madurai organised a CME Programme titled Phacoexcel 2024 under the theme “Explore the Excellence”. The event included classroom lectures and video sessions focusing on case handlings in cataract surgery. Renowned international and national speakers, along with internal faculty members from Aravind, led the sessions. A total of 153 delegates participated in the event. Additionally, a pre-conference workshop, held the day before the main event, provided hands-on training in secondary IOL implantation and simulated phacoemulsification techniques, benefiting 29 participants.

Aravind-Madurai, 30-31 January

The Central HR Team organised the two-day workshop aimed at empowering participants with essential principles for personal and professional growth. Conducted by the certified trainer, Cindy Harrison, who was personally trained by Stephen Covey, the workshop included interactive sessions, group discussions, and practical exercises. These sessions helped attendees gain insights into each habit and apply them in their daily lives. Around 40 participants from the managerial cadre and a few doctors across Aravind Eye Hospitals attended. 

Aravind-Madurai, 27-28 January

Aravind-Madurai organised a two-day symposium on diabetic retinopathy led by Dr. R. Kim, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. Naresh Babu, Chief, Retina Vitreous Services, Aravind-Madurai, Dr. V. Muthukrishnan, Retina Consultant, Aravind-Madurai, and the organising committee. The programme commenced with the ceremonial lamp lighting by Dr. P. Namperumalsamy,  and Dr. G. Natchiar.

The event served as a platform for discussions on retinal damage due to diabetes and the latest advancements in treatment procedures. Renowned experts in the field of ophthalmology from America and Israel were involved in the discussion virtually. Sessions highlighted topics such as epidemiology, clinical pearls in diabetic macular edema (DME), investigative modalities, surgical modules, and the future of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Prominent experts from various parts of the country, Dr. Shukla, Dr. Lowenstein, Dr. Rajiv Raman, Dr. Mahesh Shanmugam, and Dr. Mahesh Gopalakrishnan, actively engaged in this conference. The symposium garnered attendance from approximately 200 delegates across India.

Aravind-Madurai, 26-28 January

A three-day CPE programme was organised for the Stores team from all Aravind centres, focusing on enhancing clarity regarding inventory management practices, standardising store functions, defining roles and responsibilities of staff, and providing training on the Material management system (MMS).

The resource persons included Dr. Balaji, Dean, MBA Programme, Thiyagaraja School of Management, who presented on the Importance of achieving operational performance in stores. Additionally, Sivaram, AGM, and Kannan, Senior Manager, TAFE, Madurai, facilitated an interactive session on Supply chain reorganisation.

Aravind–Tirupati, 25^th January

Aurosambaralu is a monthly event at Aravind-Tirupati designed to bring out the talents of staff members and foster unity among departments. This year’s Aurosambaralu commenced with a Rangoli competition themed around Republic Day, enthusiastically participated in by MLOPs and administrative staff. A patient’s attendant served as the judge, evaluating the colourful Rangoli creations.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 24^th January

Aravind’s 111^th Vision Centre at Komaralingam, Tirupur District, was inaugurated by R. Jeyaramkrishnan, Former MP, Madathukulam, in the presence of Dr. V. Narendran, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Coimbatore, and prominent members from the locality, including K. Eswarasamy, M.A. Shahul Hameed, Sharmila Banu Zahra Hussain, and A. Achimuthu. The centre will be managed by Aravind-Coimbatore. On the first day, a total of 40 patients had their eyes examined.

Aravind-Theni, 9-10 January

The two-day Personnel meet held at Theni focused on highlighting the importance of the personnel department, its role, processes, and responsibilities. The programme included various sessions covering topics such as policies, planning and scheduling work, discussions about statutory acts applicable to hospitals, process flow within the department, allocation of additional duties and responsibilities, centralisation of work, and sharing. A total of 18 attendees, including senior managers, managers, nursing superintendents, coordinators, and admin assistants from 14 branches, participated in the event.

Aravind-Madurai, 7^th January

A Continuing medical education (CME) programme was organised for staff from 37 Vision Centres operated under Aravind-Madurai. The sessions, guided by Dr. Usha Kim, Regional HR Director, covered topics such as clinical updates, improving adherence to clinical protocols, reorientation to fundus imaging, cataract follow-up at vision centres, optical and innovative anterior segment imaging, and self-motivation. The organisers included Dr. Kowsalya, Medical Consultant, Neuro-ophthalmology Services, G. Jhansi Sunitha, Vision Centre Manager, and Pitchaimeena, Clinical Manager, Vision Centre. Dr. Kowsalya, and Mohammed Gowth, Senior Faculty, LAICO, coordinated the entire programme, attended by 74 Vision Centre staff members.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 6-7 January

Aravind-Pondicherry organised a CPE programme with the aim of educating clinical staff about patient care, quality, and safety at work, incorporating various team-building exercises. Sessions covered topics such as the Art of communication, Aravind ways, and The seven habits of highly effective people, facilitated by senior faculty and staff members from the HR and Housekeeping departments. A total of 50 participants benefited from this CPE.

Aravind-Pondicherry/Chennai, 5-6 January

The Insurance Meet spanned two days between 5th and 6th January at two locations. The first day in Pondicherry included sessions on patient care, professional behaviour, communication, teamwork, staff coordination, planning, decision-making, and resource utilisation, conducted by internal faculty members.

The second day in Aravind-Chennai featured talks by industry experts from VIDAL TPA, Medi Assist TPA, Star Health Insurance (presented online through Zoom), and Claim Book. Discussions covered PreAuth & Claims, requirements, document submission for settlement, and more. A total of 35 attendees, including Senior Managers, Managers, Coordinators, Admin Assistants, and MRD staff from 14 branches, participated.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 4-5 January

The Medical Record Department of Aravind-Coimbatore organised the CME for the medical record department staff, aiming to highlight the significance of patient safety. The CME featured various sessions handled by speakers, including Gautham Kumar, Manager, Quality Assurance, elaborating on Incidents, near misses, and sentinel events; Umapriya, HR Manager, discussing Communication: Tips for success; Hemalatha, Patient Care Manager, addressing How to improve and document near misses and incident reporting; and Rajakumari, Counselling Coordinator, explaining Professional etiquette and why interdepartmental relationships are important. These sessions guided the participants in creating a professional climate in their working environment. A total of 35 staff members participated in the programme.

8^th January

The annual Aravind garden festival, featuring an inter-hospital event involving all Aravind centres, was held this year with the theme of indoor plants. Aravind staff from each centre showcased creative displays based on the theme, which were judged, and the best one at each centre received an award. This festival served as a platform to promote environmental sustainability and raise awareness among staff, patients, and the public.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 5-7 January

Aravind Centre for Eyecare Innovation (ACEi) organised its 5th annual Hackathon at Aravind-Pondicherry. Dr. Arulmozhivarman, Dean of Academic Research, VIT, Vellore; Dr. Bharathiraja, Head, Centre of Electric Mobility, SRM, Chennai; Sandal Kotawala, Founder & CEO of Alfaleus, Hyderabad; and Dr. Prabu Baskaran, Retina Consultant, Aravind-Chennai, were invited as judges. A total of 128 problem statements were collected, with 32 of them being chosen for the Hackathon. Around 80 Aravind staff, including doctors, managers, technicians, and MLOPs, as well as 43 students from VIT, Chennai, and Vellore, and IIT Tirupati, took part and collaborated to find solutions. The top five innovations were awarded. Engineers from Aurolab, Remidio, and Alfaleus provided on-site technical support for the event. Aurolab sponsored the entire event as well as the prize money.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 5^th January

Aravind-Coimbatore organised a motivation session for MLOPs, with the focus on how to be successful in life. Dr. Jeyantha Sree Balakirshnan, a retired English professor and eminent motivational speaker, delivered a talk on Theethum nandrum pirar thara vaaraa, inspiring the participants.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 4-5 January

Hosted by Aravind-Tirunelveli, the meeting was attended by camp medical officers, camp managers, camp organisers, and admin assistants from all Aravind centres. The team discussed the previous year’s outreach performance and planned new activities for the year 2024. Further, there were discussions on specialty eye care services through outreach, and Not-operated patients.

Additionally, a session was arranged as part of the Camp Meeting on Work life balance, handled by R. Ganesh, Founder, LIME, Chennai.

Aravind-Madurai, 1^st January

As part of the annual Resident Social Responsibility (RSR) initiative, postgraduates from Aravind-Madurai supported visually rehabilitated women from Trichy through the Vaanavil programme. A platform was established to sell their handmade products, including colourful and attractively printed bags, pouches, jewellery pouches, candlesticks, incense sticks, towels, pillow and cushion covers, wire baskets, and bed sheets, to celebrate their dignity.

The event was led by Dr. Venkatesh Prajna, Director, Academics & Finance, and supported by Kalyani, Resident Coordinator, and other staff members.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 11^th January

Continuing the tradition, Aravind-Pondicherry organised Angaadi, a unique charity event involving all the employees. This year, the event featured a food festival and a fun shopping experience exclusively for hospital employees, with all proceeds donated to non-profit organisations.

Pongal festival was joyously celebrated at various Aravind centres, including those in Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Pondicherry, Chennai, and Tirupati, with staff members wholeheartedly participating in traditional festivities. Each centre organised a series of traditional events as a tribute to Mother Nature. Festivities including uriyadi, folk dance performances, rangoli competitions, and pooja were held. Notably, in Aravind-Tirupati, this festival, known as Sankranti, was celebrated in the same manner.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 1^st January

As a part of employee welfare activities, a workshop on Soft skills for transformation was organised by Aravind-Tirunelveli for the MLOPs. Lakshmi R, Manager, HR department, welcomed the gathering. Gokul, Sales Consultant, Zeiss India, is a softskills trainer who conducted sessions in two batches. The sessions included lectures and game activities that helped MLOPs better understand the concepts.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 28^th December

Aravind-Coimbatore organised a quiz programme for OT MLOPs, staff nurses, and trainees, aiming to emphasise the importance of OT and CSSD protocols. Dr. D. Chandrasekhar, Consultant & NABH Coordinator, conducted the quiz with participants divided into seven groups, each comprising nine members. The event provided a valuable learning experience in an enjoyable and competitive manner.

Aravind-Madurai, 22^nd December

In an ongoing commitment to train MLOPs and raise awareness about the importance of spectacles among the public and staff, the optical and pharmacy departments collaborated to organise a one-day exhibition. The event was inaugurated by Dr. R.D. Ravindran, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS). The exhibition drew patients and staff, who appreciated the team’s efforts. It featured 25 posters and six models, and similar exhibitions were planned to be conducted annually across all Aravind centres.

Aravind-Madurai, 22-23 December

Aravind Communications recently conducted its 7th Continuous Professional Education programme for the DTP staff across Aravind centres, including designers, photographers and videographers. The two-day programme, featuring a diverse range of sessions, saw the active participation of 28 staff members. Resource persons, including M. Abdul Aziz Hakkim, Assistant Professor, School of Animation & Media Studies, SLCS, Madurai; G. Ramanan, Artist,  Madurai; Chokkan, Principal Technical Program Manager, Intuit, Bengaluru; and Hameed Fayaz K, Head of Creative & Brand Solutions at Divo, Chennai, handled various sessions.

The comprehensive programme covered both online and offline sessions, addressing key topics such as Learning infographics for simplified visual representation of complex subjects, Introduction to digital drawing, Mid-career realities focusing on opportunities, threats, and professional mastery, Strategies for expanding reach through Youtube videos, and colour correction in photography.

A special highlight of the event was an interactive session with Mike Myers, Aravind Volunteer and Photography Consultant, who shared insights about photographic techniques. The programme also included visits to the Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai, the Keeladi Museum, and an outdoor photographic activity – Bird watching at Maadakulam, enhancing the overall experience for photographers and the team.

Aravind-Tirupati, 17^th December

Sponsors Day was organised by Aravind-Tirupati for the first time since its opening. The event, attended by 98 sponsors and volunteers, was graced by the esteemed presence of the Chief Guest, Sri Mangal Chand Tater, Managing Trustee, Shohan Kanwarlal Tater Charitable Trust, Chennai, and the Guest of Honour, N.S. Ravi, Retired Additional Registrar of Co-op Societies, Government of Andhra Pradesh (Integrated).

The programme commenced with a prayer song, followed by ceremonial lamp lighting. V. Vasudeva Reddy, Camp Manager, extended a warm welcome to the attendees. N.S. Ravi delivered a talk emphasising the vision and mission of Padmashree Dr. G. Venkataswamy.

Dr. Sreenath, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirupati, presented the annual report. Dr. G. Natchiar, Director Emeritus, AECS, expressed her joy in meeting all the sponsors. Dr. R. Venkatesh, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Pondicherry, delivered a talk on various eye-related issues. Dr. Umakanth, Medical Consultant, IOL & Cataract Services, Aravind-Tirupati, engaged the audience in an interactive session.

Dr. S. Ashok Vardhan, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirupati, and Dr. Sreenath, Medical Consultant, Glaucoma Services, Aravind-Tirupati presented certificates of appreciation to sponsors as a token of recognition for their noble contributions. Followed by, there was an experience sharing by a few sponsors. Additionally, the event featured a cultural performance by MLOPs. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks by Gowri Shankar, Camp Organiser, followed by a special lunch for all the sponsors.

Aravind–Tirupati, 16^th December

The 5th Hospital Day programme, organised by SV Aravind-Tirupati, featured various events. The programme began with a welcome address by K. Kesava Kumar, Manager, Administration & Finance. The chief guest, Dr. A. Raghuramaraju, Professor of Philosophy, IIT Tirupati, delivered a talk and Dr. S. Ashok Vardhan presented the annual report.  Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, AECS, gave an encouraging speech on the future goals and presented the Service Awards and attendance prizes to the staff members.

Dr. R. Venkatesh presented the best paper and best video awards to the doctors. Followed by Dr. Sathya T. Ravilla, Chief, Paediatric & Adult Strabismus, presented about Aurosambaralu. Dr. G. Natchiar presented prizes to the winners for cleanliness at MLOP Hostel. Dr. Nandini, Medical Officer, served as the compere. Moreover, there was a cultural programme by MLOPs on the theme of Ramayana, showcasing their talents through dance, karate, and silambam. Additionally, there was a special dance performance by the crèche children. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Damien Jacob, Manager, Patient Care.

Aravind-Coimbatore

The Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Aravind-Coimbatore, has brought out the eighth edition of Coimbatore Aravind Neuro-Ophthalmology Newsletter (CANN) with a focus on cases with systemic associations, reinforcing the fact that Neuro-Ophthalmology is not a solitary pursuit, but a collaborative journey. 

Aravind–Pondicherry, 22^nd November

Aravind’s 109^th vision centre was inaugurated at Vettavalam, Thiruvannamalai District. The inaugural ceremony was led by MJF Ln. Dr. G. Narasimman, Former District Governor, alongside MJF Ln. Sayar. Dr. D. Aravindhakumar, Former District Governor, MJF Ln. P. Ilangovan, GAT, Coordinator, and Dr. R. Venkatesh. At this centre, patients are examined remotely by doctors from the base hospital via telecommunications.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 8^th December

Aravind’s 110^th Vision Centre at Kalakkad was inaugurated by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, Aravind-Tirunelveli, and attended by Dr. Sivasubramanian, Dr. Aruna, Thiru Rajan, Kalakkad Municipal Deputy Chairman, Aysha Banu, Ward Councillor, along with staff members, well-wishers, and patrons of Aravind. The event’s organising team included Dr. Haridass, Incharge–Vision Centres, Murugan, EMR Coordinator, Shanmuga Sundari, Assistant Nursing Superintendent, Alstin, Assistant Administrator, Stephen, VC Coordinator, Lakshmi, HR Manager, and Andal, Maintenance Coordinator. Notably, the inaugural day saw the screening of 57 patients.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 7^th December

Dr. R. Ramakrishnan inaugurated the Cataract Education Zone at Aravind-Tirunelveli, a significant initiative aimed at raising awareness among patients and their attendants about cataract surgery. The event witnessed the presence of Dr. R. Meenakshi, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Tirunelveli, along with Anburaj and Narayanan from ALCON, and other staff members.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 6^th December

The Office Based Digital Resource Training initiative for the visually impaired was started at the Vision Rehabilitation Clinic as a part of the vocational training programme with the support of the Vision Aid project. This initiative was inaugurated by Dr. R. Ramakrishnan in the presence of Dr. R. Meenakshi, Chief Medical Officer, and staff members. A demonstration of the software and other resources integral to the digital training programme was expertly presented by Selvi, Refractionist, Aravind-Tirunelveli who had previously undergone a course at Aravind-Madurai.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 29^th November- 2^nd December

Aravind-Pondicherry, organised a five-day exhibition, ‘Kannae, Nalamaa,’ with a focus on educating school and nursing college students, as well as patients and attenders. The exhibition featured interactive tools such as engaging 3D models, posters, and videos to impart crucial knowledge about eye care, diseases, and available treatment options. The MLOPs demonstrated eye care to the public at each stall. The exhibition reached over 1200 school children and more than 600 other attendees.

Aravind-Tirupati, 29^th November

Aravind-Tirupati recently hosted a Graduation Day ceremony for MLOPs who have successfully completed their training and are now assuming full-time roles at Aravind-Tirupati. The celebratory event commenced with candle lighting and the administration of the Florence Nightingale pledge. Trainees took the opportunity to share their valuable experiences gained during their training period. Kesav Kumar, Manager, Administration and Finance, addressed the graduates, emphasising the importance of cultivating the habit of saving. The ceremony also featured congratulatory remarks from Dr. S. Ashok Vardhan, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Preethi, Chief, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services, and Dr. Peddireddy Hema, Medical Consultant, Intraocular Lens & Cataract Services, Aravind-Tirupati.

Aravind-Tirunelveli, 26^th November

In connection with World Diabetes Day, Aravind –Tirunelveli organised a CME on the theme of diabetes and its broader implications. Distinguished external speakers, Dr. Selvaraj, Diabetologist, Dr. Sivaprakash, Endocrinologist, Dr. Thirulogachander, Cardiologist, Dr. V. Ramasubramanian, Nephrologist, Dr. Sivan Arul Selvam, Endocrinology & Diabetologist, Dr. Ananthi, Ophthalmologist, from Tirunelveli Medical College & Hospital; and internal speakers, Dr. Sherin Haroon M., Dr. Maneksha.V., Dr. Anitha V., Dr. Pooja Pawar, Dr. Ram Sudarshan R, and Dr. Syed Mohideen, handled insightful sessions on systemic manifestations and the latest advancements in diabetes management. There were discussions on the impact of diabetes on the cataract and cornea, alongside presentations on epidemiology, clinical features, and the management of diabetic retinopathy.

Additionally, a quiz competition was conducted. A total of 80 participants, comprising fellows and postgraduates from Aravind, as well as postgraduates from the departments of Ophthalmology and General Medicine, Tirunelveli, and Tuticorin Medical Colleges, took part in the event.

Aravind-Coimbatore, 20-26 November

MYOPIA has emerged as a growing concern for children, with an estimated 50% of the population expected to be affected by 2050. Mindful of this, the Myopia Clinic under the Paediatric Ophthalmology Department of Aravind-Coimbatore organised a myopia awareness week activity with the theme #GoGreenLessScreen. This week-long campaign was dedicated to enlightening the public about childhood myopia, its causes, and how outdoor sports and minimising screen time can effectively prevent and slow down the progression of myopia in children.

To draw attention to this issue, group counselling sessions were conducted, specifically targeting attendants of daycare cataract surgery patients. The awareness activity attracted nearly 200 participants, including supportive staff, administrative personnel, and visitors.

Aravind-Tirupati

At Aravind-Tirupati, an exhibition was organised on the theme of “More green less screen” featuring educational posters about the risk factors of myopia, how to prevent it, and the importance of using glasses. Notably, these posters are made of cardboard and colour paint.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 25^th November

Organised by the Biomedical Engineering Department of Aravind-Pondicherry, the 4^th Workshop on Instruments Maintenance was inaugurated by Dr. R. Venkatesh, Chief Medical Officer, Aravind-Pondicherry. During the event, Dr. Venkatesh unveiled the second edition of the “Handbook on Instrument and Equipment Maintenance,” which was warmly received by Prof. N. Manickam, Instrument and Maintenance, Aravind-Madurai. The workshop featured comprehensive training, including PowerPoint presentations, instructional videos, and live demonstrations on maintaining, cleaning, and repairing various ophthalmic instruments. The session concluded with an interactive Kahoot quiz and an awards ceremony to recognise participants’ efforts. Over 110 skilled optometrists and biomedical engineers attended.

Madurai, 21^st November

Organised by the Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank, Aravind-Madurai, at Gandhi Museum, Madurai, D. Saravanan, Manager, Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank, handled a session on eye donation and the role of students in eye donation. The event was presided over by Nandha Rao, Secretary, and R. Natarajan, Education Officer, Gandhi Museum. A total of 60 participants took part.

Aravind, 17^th November

Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai, and Coimbatore observed World Prematurity Day by displaying awareness posters to emphasize the importance of early and prompt screening and treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP).

During the event held at Aravind-Tirunelveli, organised for parents of ROP babies, Dr. Syed Mohideen, Chief, Retina Services, Dr. Fathima, Medical Consultant, Paediatric Department, Aravind-Tirunelveli, delivered talks to raise awareness. Dr. Ramakrishnan, Advisor, Aravind-Tirunelveli, addressed the parents about the significance of ROP follow-up. A total of 73 families of ROP babies, especially those who had undergone laser/injections, participated in this programme.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 17^th November

To commemorate the initiation of a new journey, Aravind-Pondicherry organised a graduation day for the MLOPs. The ceremony was led by Dr. R. Venkatesh, Dr. Veena K., Regional HR Director, Pondicherry & Salem, as well as MLOP in-charge doctors, Dr. Josephine Christy, and Dr. Sivagami. This graduation day signified the transition of MLOP sisters from trainee positions to full-time employees. The graduates administered the Florence Nightingale pledge during the occasion.

14-19 November

Aravind centres commemorated World Diabetes Day with a series of events to sensitise the public about the importance of controlling diabetes and undergoing regular eye examinations to prevent blindness due to diabetic retinopathy. The wide range of programmes included exclusive diabetic retinopathy screening camps, awareness rallies, seminars, teleconsultation, awareness talks, exhibitions, distribution of pamphlets, slogan writing, poster creation, quiz contests, drawing, and speech competitions for MLOPs and school students. Notably, at Aravind-Theni, Google AI fundus cameras were donated to two private diabetic clinics in Theni district, namely Sakthi Clinic in Batalagundu and Nalam Hospital in Theni. Dr. P. Namperumalsamy, Chairman Emeritus, Aravind Eye Care System (AECS), officially inaugurated this initiative.

Aravind, 14^th November

Children’s Day was observed across all Aravind Centres with the aim of raising awareness and educating parents and caregivers about major childhood ocular illnesses. Informative posters on myopia, strabismus, childhood cataract, ROP, allergic conjunctivitis, and amblyopia were prominently displayed. Various events, including talks, exhibitions, quiz contests, and fun activities, as well as the distribution of gifts, were organised. These engaging activities attracted both kids and parents, enhancing their general awareness of common visual disabilities. They also served as a source of motivation for the staff, inspiring them to continue making a positive impact on children’s lives.

Aravind-Pondicherry, 9^th November