Indian doctor promises best services

The Founder and Chair of the LV Prasad Eye Institute in India Dr. Gulipalli N. Rao says his institution will bring the best of its services to Liberia.Speaking at a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia when he was being honored by President Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf recently, Dr. Rao said two years from now, Liberians will not go to foreign countries for treatment.

He says other countries will rather come to Liberia for eye treatment, adding that the objective of his initiative is to ensure that no Liberian goes needlessly blind or visually impaired.

The Indian doctor adds that six thousand Liberians across the country have benefitted from his eye clinic at the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital. The eye specialist discloses that his medical team will visit the country every month, adding that beginning July next year, they will introduce a program called twenty thousand by 2020. He says physicians and nurses from Liberia will be traveling to India to attend the LV Prasad Eye Institute for learning and his organization will soon be opening regional health centers in every part of Liberia.

For her part, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf paid tribute to Dr. Rao for his tremendous contributions to eye care services in Liberia and also conferred one of Liberia’s highest honors on him with the grade of Grand Commander.

President Sirleaf recalls that Dr. Rao has served in several eye organizations of the world and his eye services have been directed to the poor and less privileged, including Liberians. Receiving the honor, Dr. Rao thanked President Sirleaf for the recognition and pledged his organization’s unflinching support to eye care services in Liberia.

Dr. Rao, a Medical Doctor and an Ophthalmologist born in India, was admitted into the Order of Grand Commander by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in her capacity as the Grand Master of Distinctions in Liberia.

For his part, Mr. Sam Balasundaram, Liberia Eye Center Manager says it is necessary for Liberians to test their eyes frequently, noting that LV Prasad Eye Institute is charitable and most of the treatment at the eye clinic is relatively free.

He says the clinic uses the officials and well-meaning Liberians to pay for their own eye care which in turn the centre can use to accommodate the poor and needy people at no cost to them.
Also speaking, Dr. Edward Gizzie says LV Prasad Eye Institute’s interest is to operate in every part of Liberia. Dr. Gizzie urges every Liberian to visit the eye clinic at the J. F. K Memorial Hospital for their comprehensive eye examination.

By Emmanuel Mondaye–Edited by Winston W. Parley