"Donating eyes is allowed in Islam. No religion forbids it. In fact by donating our eyes, we benefit other people and ourselves as eye donors," Habibie said here Saturday when commemorating the first anniversary of his wife`s death.
Habibie said the number of eye donors in Indonesia is still very small compared to Singapore which has become a cornea exporter.
Indonesia`s population is much bigger than Singapore`s but Indonesia still has to import corneas to meet the country`s need for normal eyes.
According to the health ministry`s data, three million Indonesians are blind and about half of them suffer cataract.
"With a large population, if one percent of it donate their eyes, they could help thousands of others who have become blind due to cataract," Habibie said.
"Just imagine, if one percent of the Indonesian people is willing to donate their eyes, blind people in the country will have their sight restored," Habibie said.
Habibie said he has registered himself as a cornea donor at the Eye Bank. "When the time comes, please take my eyes to be donated," Habibie said.
Habibie said his wife, Ainun Habibie, actually wanted to donate her eyes after her death. Ainun was chairperson of the Indonesian Eye Donors Association (PPMTI). (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
