Media Release
Mangaluru, Feb 16: The department of Ophthalmology Father Muller Medical College and BSc Optometry, Father Muller College of Allied Health Sciences celebrated low vision awareness month inaugural on February 16 held at MRD Entrance, FMMCH with great fervour and enthusiasm. The event brought together the management committee members, faculty members, course coordinators, staff, students of FMCI along with patients and their attenders. The programme began with a prayer song and with a great reverence.
Dr Sarita Lobo HOD ophthalmology welcomes the gathering. Calistus D’Sa, principal, Roman and Catherine School for Blind was invited as the chief guest and he created awareness on low vision and briefly highlighted the facilities at the Roman and Catherine Lobo School for Blind which is a beacon of light for the blind children of the Dakshina Kannada.
The director of FMCI Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo presided over the function and highlighted how visually impaired individuals can function normally in the society with help of low vision aids and how it is duty of every human being to assist and guide the visually impaired.
Other dignitaries present were Dr Michael L Santhumayor, dean FMMC Dr Antony Sylvan D’Souza, Fr George Jeevan Sequeira, administrator FMMCH, assistant administrator Fr William D'Souza, vice dean Dr Venkatesha B M, medical superintendent, AMS, DMS, and HOD’s, course coordinators and faculty were present.
The organising secretary Dr Madhurima A Nayak listed the various low vision aid apps available, their applications in day-to-day life and also announced the Prizes for the reel competition was held in view of Low vision awareness month. Flyers with information on low vision and the department was also released. Kavyashree Kotian lecturer optometry compered the programme.
The department of ophthalmology, Father Muller Medical College is the only centre to have a Low Vison Aid Clinic where we evaluate and dispense low vision aids and the only centre to have a 24hrs trauma and retina care facility to treat complex low vision and retinal conditions in this region. This was followed by demonstration of low vision aids and apps in the OPD block. A visit to the blind school was also organised for the students. The official Instagram page for the department of ophthalmology was released to the public on this day, fmmc_opthamology.