KAKINADA, AP(TIP): Dr. V.K. Raju, an eminent ophthalmologist based in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA was honored  for his over 40 years work to eradicate avoidable blindness in India during  the Diamond  Jubilee celebrations of Rangaraya Medical College in Kakinada on Saturday, January 5. The award was presented to him by the Vice President of Indi, M Venkaiah Naidu who was the chief guest. This award adds to a long list of awards and honors conferred on Dr. Raju.

Dr. V.K. Raju is  founder and president of the Eye Foundation of America, a nearly 40-year-old not-for-profit engaged in the work of eradication of preventable blindness across the world. (www.eyefoundationofamerica.org)

Dr. V.K. Raju was on a visit to India to attend a couple of conferences and speak at some events. He was in Mumbai on December 28 to attend the AAPI-GAPIO Summit where he spoke on Diabetics & its Pandemic health consequences.

In Kolkata on January 1, Dr. Raju spoke at  Kolkata Rotary Club, which is the oldest Rotary Club in India and which will be  celebrating its centenary towards the end of 2019. Dr. Raju was the keynote speaker on childhood blindness.

Addressing the Rotarians he complimented them for their tremendous achievement in “wiping out Polio in 28 years. He  exhorted them to evince the same zeal in respect of preventing avoidable blindness from the face of India.

“If Rotary puts in its effort for as many years, we can have a world without blindness, he said, reminding that “80% of our learning comes through vision”. It needs only three wills- political will, professional will, and people’s will to achieve the desired goal. He quoted US Ambassador Galbraith, the hyper educated economist of the world who underscored the importance of education when he said, “Education is the most effective equalizer”.

While in Kolkata, he took the opportunity of spending 2 days at the Asiatic Library  where he studied the original Bowerman manuscripts dealing with Yoga.

Dr. Raju delivered a lecture at Andhra Medical College at Vishakhapatnam on January 2. He also attended a meeting at the Eye Bank where he pointed out that corneal blindness which  is rampant in India, is preventable. In fact, 70% of it can be prevented through education and affordable primary care in every village.

Next, in Kakinada on January 5, Dr. Raju attended the  Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Rangaraya Medical College where he was honored for his work by the Vice President of India.

However, the most absorbing engagement for Dr. Raju was lecturing to staff and examining patients at the Eye Foundation of America supported  Goutami Eye Institute in Rajahmundry. Over a period of 5 days, Dr. Raju worked day and night with the Goutami Eye Institute staff, examining hundreds of patients who have great faith in Dr. Raju and Goutami Eye Institute.