Ethiopians pledge eye donations for sight-impaired after death
The Ethiopian government has revealed that over 200 individuals have pledged to donate their eyes upon their passing as a step towards contributing to restoring vision for others battling various forms of sight impairment.
According to the government, a total of 288 individuals have stepped forward to pledge their eyes for donation after their demise to illuminate the lives of others with their selfless acts.
Speaking on the overwhelming pledges of donation, Director General of the Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank Service, Habtamu Taye said while the initial target was to secure pledges from 300 individuals within a nine-month time frame, the enthusiastic participation surpassed expectations.
Simret Teshome, one of the many individuals who have pledged to donate their eyes shared their motivation for pledging to donate her eyes. "After I depart this mortal realm, I have been inspired to donate my eye, enabling another individual to reclaim their sight and transition from darkness into the light. After all, the benevolent acts carried out on Earth are the treasures that adorn the heavens! This is the very reason for my joy. It fills me with profound happiness to know that by donating my eye, I can help someone behold the world anew," she told the Ethiopian News Agency.
Emphasising the urgent need for eye donations in Ethiopia, Taye highlighted the plight of citizens who have lost their sight due to eye injuries and are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to regain their vision through medical interventions.
By donating one's eyes, he noted, individuals symbolically contribute to the restoration of sight, empowering fellow citizens to lead fulfilling lives and make valuable contributions to society.
So far, the Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank Service has collected a total of 203 eye tissues over the past nine months with many other pledging donations, the Ethiopian News Agency reported.
