Samarthanam Celebrates World Sight Day
Prevention is better than Cure 

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled celebrated the World Sight Day (WSD) on October 8, 2009. World Sight Day, an international day of awareness to focus attention on blindness and visual impairment. This year’s theme of WSD is “Gender and Eye Health: Equal Access to Care.” An estimated 45 million children and adults are blind worldwide and every year between 1 and 2 million more lose their sight. What makes these facts even more upsetting is that 75 percent of cases could have been prevented, or their eyesight restored, if only people had access to proper eye care. Unless steps are taken now, it is estimated that by the year 2020 blindness will affect more than 76 million people!
Mr.Mahantesh.G.K, Founder Managing Trustee, Samarthanam welcome the guests and explained Samarthanam’s services to the visually impaired, enabling them to be a part of mainstream social life. He said “keeping in mind this year's theme of World Sight Day is, Samarthanam is encouraging everybody, especially women and girls to come forward because nearly two thirds of the blind people worldwide are women and girls. There is an evident gender bias against women for eye health and they are deprived of access to health care services.”
“Blindness is better prevented than cured.” said Dr. Appaji Gowda, internationally renowned eye surgeon, while addressing the function. “Most of the cases of loss of vision are curable if provided with timely medical intervention.” Dr.Gowda offered free eye testing for Samarthanam students at his clinic. In his speech he explained the journey of advancement of eye care techniques in India.
Mr. Ramesh Halbhavi, Deputy Director, Departmet of Women and Child Development, Bangalore (Urban), chaired the event. In his speech he explained various government initiatives to detect and prevent the disabilities, “In anganwadis every three months the students are screened by the teachers, and every six months the district doctor visits the anganwadis to check the students. The students are referred to further medical investigations; if required.” He appreciated the work of Samarthanam in association with the Government of Karnataka.
Mrs. Savithri, Lucturer, PES Engineering College and a Samarthanam Volunteer was present for the event. She had a very lively interaction with the students.

About Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled
Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, a member of World Blind Union (WBU), has been working since 1997 to empower the visually impaired, disabled and underprivileged people in India. Samarthanam is working to support the visually impaired, disabled and underprivileged to keep in pace with the rest of the society by providing quality education, accommodation, nutritious food, vocational training, placement based rehabilitation and achieve personal independence. Samarthanam works towards creating an inclusive society which provides opportunities—without any discrimination—for the development of the visually impaired, disabled and underprivileged people.
About World Sight Day
World Sight Day is an international day of awareness, held annually on the second Thursday of October to focus attention on the global issue of avoidable blindness and visual impairment. It is an initiative of Vision 2020, the global campaign whose vision is to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020, led by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
About the Speakers:
Mr. Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar
A social entrepreneur and the Founder Managing Trustee of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, he is a visually impaired person. Beginning in 1997, Samarthanam is imparting education and rehabilitation for more than 250 visually impaired students.
Dr. Appachi Gowda
An internationally renowned eye surgeon with over 22 years of practice. He has done over one lakh eye surgeries.