KOZHIKODE: The eye surgery unit has resumed functioning at government general hospital here after closure for maintenance for a few month, which came as a shocker to many waiting for surgery after diagnosis. Some 700 cataract surgeries were held in the hospital last year, which is high in the region. “We have been doing keyhole surgery here. All facilities including the fitting of the lens in the eyes after the operation are made available here,” said Dr Beena Gopalakrishnan, the head of the ophthalmology department.
Normally, the surgeries using most modern equipment would leave a huge hole in the pocket if performed in private hospitals. “It is a great relief that the eye surgery unit restarted functioning. Many old fishers in the area underwent surgeries from the beach hospital. The ophthalmology department providing state-of-the-art facilities is a boon to common man,” says Hassan Koya Peedikapurayil of Vellayil beach. Besides, the department is keen to conduct eye camps in rural parts of the district with the support of local clubs or grama panchayats.
The hospital is gearing up for a facelift now with the implementation of new facilities. Recently, an infertility clinic, ‘B Care’ (Beach Center for Assisted Reproduction) was launched in association with Junior Chamber International (JCI) Calicut chapter. It is the second government infertility clinic in Malabar after Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode.
