Prof. Rajkumari Vidyarani, Professor and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Jawaharlal Institute of Medical Sciences (JIMS), Imphal, will be conferred the “ACOIN National Lady of the Year 2025” award for her dedicated services to community eye healthcare.
The award will be presented during the ACOIN Silver Jubilee 2026, the 25th International Assembly of Community Ophthalmologists and the 16th Annual Conference of the Association of Community Ophthalmologists of India (ACOIN), scheduled to be held at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town, Kolkata, from September 24 to 27.
According to an invitation issued by the ACOIN national secretariat, the award recognises Prof. Vidyarani’s sincere, dedicated and lifelong contribution to community eye health services in the Indian subcontinent.
ACOIN, which has more than 1,600 members across India and abroad, works to promote community eye healthcare and advocate for improved access to ophthalmic services. The organisation conducts continuing medical education programmes, community eye-health surveys and awareness initiatives through its state chapters.
Its programmes include the ACOIN Dristi Ratha Yatra, described by the organisation as a community eye-health model aimed at raising awareness about available eye-care facilities and breaking barriers caused by a lack of information.
The Kolkata conference will be attended by community ophthalmologists and healthcare professionals from India and abroad.
The organisers said former President of India Ram Nath Kovind would attend as guest-in-chief, while former Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav would be the guest of honour. West Bengal Health Minister Dr Sharodwat Mukhopadhaya has also been invited as a special guest.
