Dharamshala, September 1: A district-level health awareness workshop focusing on eye care, eye donation, snakebite prevention, cancer follow-up services and HPV vaccination was organised at the Conference Hall of Zonal Hospital Dharamshala under the **41st National Eye Donation Fortnight.
The workshop was chaired by Chief Medical Officer **Dr. Omesh Bharti** and attended by Senior Medical Superintendent **Dr. Anuradha Sharma, District Health Officer Dr. R.K. Sood, District Programme Officer Dr. Anuradha, District Immunization Officer Dr. Dushyant Kumar** and other health department officials and staff.
Addressing the participants, Dr. Omesh Bharti stressed the importance of eye care and eye donation, appealing to the public to pledge their eyes and help restore sight to people suffering from corneal blindness. Eye Specialist **Dr. Shailendra Minhas** explained preventive measures, including regular eye examinations, limiting screen exposure, following the 20-20-20 rule, maintaining a balanced diet, protecting eyes from dust and sunlight, and avoiding self-medication with eye drops.
He said corneal donation can help restore vision and clarified that people of any age, gender or blood group can donate their corneas. He also highlighted the importance of promptly contacting an eye bank after death. Participants were administered the eye donation pledge.
Speaking on cancer care, Dr. Bharti informed that **Day Care Cancer Centres are available at Zonal Hospital Dharamshala and Civil Hospital Nurpur**. Patients undergoing treatment at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, can continue follow-up treatment at these centres. Dr. Anuradha Sharma said patients could collect medicines and consult her office (Room No. 208) to avoid inconvenience.
Under the **SARPA Project**, Mrs. Archana Phull sensitised participants about snakebite management, stressing immediate hospitalisation, immobilisation of the bitten limb and avoiding tourniquets, cutting, sucking or traditional remedies. She highlighted that Anti-Snake Venom is the proven treatment for venomous snakebite.
District Immunization Officer Dr. Dushyant Kumar explained the importance of **HPV vaccination in preventing cervical cancer** and appealed for greater awareness about vaccination among girls aged 14 to below 15 years. The vaccine is available free of cost at government hospitals.
Members of the Rotary Club, Innerwheel and Jagori NGO participated in the workshop and pledged to carry the health awareness message to communities and villages.