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Dear Colleague,
At the very beginning I would like to thank you all for giving me this opportunity to serve the All Assam Ophthalmological Society (AAOS) as its President. The AAOS one of the oldest societies of the medical fraternity in this part of the country has attained adulthood. Today I would like to respectfully remember those great people who planted the sapling of the AAOS and nurtured it to this stage.
Eyesight is considered to be the most precious among all the senses and the responsibility of preserving it in best form is on the shoulders of the Ophthalmologists. I take great pleasure to inform that the Ophthalmologists of Assam holding hands with the counterparts of the entire country are earnestly fulfilling this responsibility with complete dedication and zeal. This is reflected in lowering the incidence of cataract in our country. But even today a sizable number of Ophthalmologists are non operating and I fervently request them to start doing surgery. Although there is a decline in cataract some other conditions are on the rise. Glaucoma and Refractive error are two important ones. This rise is probably due to awareness and increase in diagnosis of these cases. This is a good sign but at the same time I request my fellow friends to prepare themselves and be ready to handle these cases effectively.
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) as a cause of blindness needs special mention. With increase in life-span of the population and availability of better treatment options for control of diabetes, the incidence of Diabetic Retinopathy is in increase to the extent that it may pose as a serious challenge to the control of blindness in India within a decade or so. It is the time that we should prepare our self to face this problem. The AAOS has already started working on it. To create awareness about the problem and its successful control, a CD is prepared covering the different aspects. With the help of the CD interactive sessions are organized in different parts of the state by the local Ophthalmologist involving the IMA and other bodies. This is accepted very well by all. To sensitize and train Ophthalmologists there is a need of CME s , seminars etc on the subject. Tele Ophthalmology has proved to be helpful in diagnosing and subsequent management of DR in remote areas. Government has both responsibility and definite role in controlling this menace. I request the Govt. both state and the central to make available the diagnostic and management tools for DR in all the District Hospitals apart from the Medical Colleges. Further training of personal is another important aspect where the Govt can help.
Corneal blindness is another aspect that needs attention. Millions in our country specially the children are remaining needlessly blind for want of donated corneas. The cornea collection in our state is hopelessly poor. I earnestly appeal to all the members of the AAOS to come forward and act effectively to increase the number of cornea collection and wipe out corneal blindness.
The number of Ophthalmologist to population ratio in our country is 1:1,00,000. The figure is still poor in Assam and NE states which is 1:1,50,000. For the last couple of years 50% of the Post Graduate seats (including
Ophthalmology) are allotted to the central quota. These students after completion of their studies usually go back to their respective states. In this connection I would like to draw the attention of the State Govt. and request to increase the seats in Post Graduate courses of the state or else there will be an acute shortage of Ophthalmologists in the state in the near future.
As the number of Ophthalmologists in the state is increasing it has become difficult to keep contact with each other. This contact is very much essential not only to exchange the views and ideas on the professional and scientific field but also to keep social contacts and to know each other better.
With this idea the AAOS published a directory of its members. But I request the concerned office bearers of the AAOS to keep it in mind to update it periodically.Further the website launched by AAOS is functional now.
I am pleased to put on records that the members of the AAOS are actively involved in the field of academics. Many of our members have earned laurels and accolades in both national and international level. I request our members to put more efforts in this aspect so that our presence is felt in a bigger way in both national and international forums. In the state scenario it is very encouraging to note that more and more members of AAOS are actively participating in the academic activities. From a meager couple of papers presented in annual meetings of the Society a decade back I am informed by the Chairman Scientific Committee of AAOS that this time he had a tough time how to accommodate more than 80 nos of free papers and posters in this conference. This is a healthy sign but I shall be happy when more numbers of our members from the periphery take part in these activities which is presently limited mostly to the Medical Colleges and few other institutes. AAOS need to plan and execute strategies so that the situation can be improved. In the recent past the AAOS organized CME programmes in district and sub-divisional head quarters. Although the response was not that encouraging we should not loose heart and try different ways and means to find a solution.
As we are aware that to cope with the ever changing developments there should be regular CMEs, seminars and discussions. As a part of this the AAOS is regularly holding mid term conferences but I suggest that some small satellite conferences in different small towns will be of much help.
The importance of community service in today’s world and specially in a country like ours cannot be ignored. This is more relevant for us related with blindness control. The AAOS is committed to serve the community. Apart from individual members helping implementation of National Programme for Control of Blindness in the form of attending screening and surgical camps, the AAOS itself organized eye operation camps in Nalbari, Jorhat, Majuli, Titabar and Golaghat where 400 nos cataract cases were operated. Further the AAOS is always associated with celebration of programmes like World Sight Day, Eye donation fortnight, World Sight Day etc.
It is a long felt need to have a permanent office and a Head Quarter Building of the AAOS. The matter was discussed in different forums of the society including the General Body and various suggestions came from the members but nothing progressed so far. To me a Society of this stature which will be completing fifty years of existence soon a permanent address is the need of the day. I hope the AAOS will give a serious thinking and come up with concrete proposal and timely implementation of the same.
I shall be failing in my duties if I do not mention about the help and co-operation received from all the members of the AAOS in general and the office bearers in particular specially the General Secretary and the Chairman Scientific Committee who had been constantly by my side looking into every details of functioning of the Society.
At the end I would like to refer to the great sayings of the Upanishada “Tamasho Ma Jyotirgamaya.” Come let us dedicate ourselves to the cause of eradication of blindness and bring light to those in dark.
LONG LIVE ALL ASSAM OPHTHALMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Dr. C. K. Barua.
President, ALL ASSAM OPHTHALMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
42nd ANNUAL CONFERENCE
27th. & 28th November 2010
GUWAHATI
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Presidential Address
