MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Due to the need for more cornea donors, the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines is encouraging the Bangsamoro people to consider giving the gift of sight to patients needing corneal transplants.

Dr. Ma. Dominga “Minguita” B. Padilla, the founding president and ambassador of the Eye Bank Foundation in the Philippines, said they need the help of the public to address the growing number of patients desperately waiting for eye tissues. 

In Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC) alone, about 40 people are waiting for a corneal transplant.

"Please consider donating your cornea or yung cornea ng inyong mahal sa buhay. A lot of people here pati yung mga kapatid nating Muslim, ang dami-daming nangangailangan ng cornea," she said.

[Please consider donating your cornea or the cornea of your loved one. A lot of people here, including our Muslim brothers, need corneas.]

Padilla assured that the removal of the cornea is not disfiguring as it is done by skilled professionals with the utmost respect. Reconstruction is also done so that there is no change in the face of the donor. 

The eye bank ambassador also cited several Fatwa allowing such transplantation as it can do good for others and in consideration of the desperate worldwide need for corneas.

Recently, the Eye Bank Foundation entered an agreement with APMC for the establishment of an eye tissue retrieval satellite center in Marawi City. Part of the agreement is a workshop on cornea retrieval and training of transplant coordinators on approaching the family of potential donors.

The said eye tissue retrieval satellite center complements APMC's Eye Center which has successfully conducted its very first corneal transplant to an 11-year-old boy who received a cornea from a donor through the Eye Bank Foundation. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)