Media Release

John B. Monteiro

Belthangady, Nov 17: The eye camp at Fr L. M. Pinto Hospital, Badyar, near Guruvayanakere in Belthangady Taluk, organised by Catholic Association of South Kanara (CASK) on November 16, 2014 drew an impressive response with 230 patients being examined by a team of eye specialists from Fr Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangaluru.

The camp, part of the outreach program, an offshoot of the centenary year of CASK, concluded with the valedictory function on September 22, with the Vice President of India, Dr Hamid Ansari presiding, is the second such camp, the first having been held at Holy Cross Hospital, Chikamagaluru, where 30 patients were referred for surgery or specialised care to Fr Muller Hospital and 138 persons were given prescriptions and spectacles – at no cost to the patients. At the Badyar camp, 26 patients were identified for further treatment/surgery and the rest for spectacles – all free of charge.

The four-member team of ophthalmologists from Fr Mullers, headed by Dr Vinay P G, got down to work in their specially set up consulting rooms at 9 AM without any formal inauguration ceremony and worked for four hours without a break. They were ably backed up by the efficient nursing staff of Fr L M Pinto Hospital, under close supervision of Sr. Premlata of the Bethany Congregation, which runs the hospital. CASK President and Hon Secretary, Capt John Prasad Menezes and Mario Saldanha, respectively, facilitated on behalf of CASK.