International Eye Bank symposium begins today

A two-day symposium on International Eye Bank begins at Hotel Sheraton in the city today.
The symposium has been organised jointly by ORBIS International, Sandhani National Eye Donation Society, LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) of India and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), says a press release.
President Iajuddin Ahmed will inaugurate the symposium.
AKM Zafar Ullah Khan, secretary to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, will attend the inaugural ceremony as special guest.
Dr GN Rao, chair of LV Prasad Eye Institute and president of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), will present a keynote paper on 'Corneal Transplantation Services in Bangladesh.'
Eye Bank experts from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Iran and USA will deliver lectures and facilitate scientific discussions at the symposium.
Senior government officials, representatives from ORBIS's partner organisations, and senior ophthalmologists from the country will also attend the symposium.
There are about 100,000 corneal blind people in Bangladesh. Many of their sight could be regained through corneal transplant.
With this view ORBIS has supported Sandhani to strengthen its eye bank through a project titled 'Strengthening eye banking capacity of Sandhani National Eye Donation Society.'
This support has enabled Sandhani to establish an international standard eye bank with a highly competent managerial and technical team that could independently manage the eye bank.
During the last two years, corneal tissue collection of Sandhani has increased manifolds, the release added.