Bihar seeks help of American experts to study blindness
By IANSWednesday, March 31, 2010
PATNA - The Bihar government has sought help from American eye experts to examine the reason behind as many as 18 children being born blind in the past three months in Bhojpur district.
Till date local and other doctors have failed to understand the reason. \”We can\’t say anything about the reason why 18 children were born blind,\” Bihar Health Minister Nand Kishore Yadav told IANS here Wednesday.
Yadav said the state health department has approached American eye experts to understand the reason behind it. \”We hope to get a positive response from American experts,\” he said.
He also said that the state government was in touch with some reputed eye hospitals across India to examine the cause behind it.
All the 18 children were born blind in villages under Bihiya, Sahpur and Barehara blocks.
Bhojpur district health officials said that high levels of arsenic were found in the district.
Early this year S.K. Kedia, a local eye specialist, who was first consulted by parents of most of the blind children, said there was a ray of hope for them if the government allowed American eye experts to study and examine the rare
