Habibie to Donate His Eyes

Bogor, Indonesia (News Today) - Former president BJ Habibie said he supported the struggle of his wife, the Late Hasri Ainun Habibie, who had fought in solving the problem of blindness in Indonesia and would therefore donate his eyes.

"I have told my wife that I will donate my eyes, but I will make it official the appropriate time," Habibie said when inaugurating the dr Hasri Ainun Habibie Eye Clinic at the building of the Indonesian Eye Donors Association (PPMTI)/Eye Banks here on Sunday.

Habibie’s intention to donate his eyes was inspired by his wife who had consistently struggled for the fate of blind people in Indonesia.

"My wife once told me that if half of the Indonesian people were aware and prepared to become eye donors, about 60 percent of the blind in Indonesia would regain their sight," Habibie said.

Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsi said that the number of blind people in Indonesia was big while the number of donors was still very small. In an effort to overcome blindness, the Indonesian government still had to import eye corneas from other countries.

She said that the number of donors had been small due to the lack of information and awareness of the Indonesian people regarding eye donation. Donating eyes would help other people to regain their sights, the minister said.

The minister also expressed her intention to donate her eyes. She said that the struggle of Madam Ainun Habibie to solve blindness in Indonesia needed to be continued.

Ainun Habibie also had wanted that the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)’s fatwa (edict) which stipulated that becoming an eye donor was ibadah (an act of devotion), would not merely serve as a will."We have to support her desire and popularize it to the people that donating one’s eyes is an act of religious devotion," the minister said.

The wish to donate one’s eyes was also expressed by artist Mark Sungkar who acted as host during the inaugural ceremony. He and his two daughters will also register as eye donors.

Source : kompas

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