SHILLONG, AUG 2: With health problems being the issue most people are concerned with in their day to day life, this is an opportune moment for Bansara Eye Care Centre, a leading Eye Care health provider in the state of Meghalaya and has been serving the people of the state from 1980 to come with a unique initiative in providing health care to the general public.
Starting off with the launching of the Diabetic Retinopathy Management Project on August 9, 2013 at Eldorado Guest House, Dhankheti, and the first free Diabetic Retinopathy camp will be held on the 10th of August at MUDA Complex, Shillong.
Health Minister AL Hek and Health Commissioner and Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department will be the Chief Guest and Guest of Honor respectively for the launching program while Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and East Khasi Hills District Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal will grace the occasion of the Diabetic Retinopathy camp respectively.
The first free diabetes/diabetic retinopathy screening camp would be flagged off on the 10th of August, 2013 at MUDA complex, parking lot, 2nd Floor, Police Bazar.
Stating this in a press conference held today at the Shillong Press Club, Bansara Eye Care Centre Medical Director Dr Jennifer Basaiawmoit said, “This project is the first of its kind in the North East and we are proud to be associated with the World Diabetes Foundation whose vision is to be a catalyst for change to open a window of hope in developing our state by supporting prevention and treatment of diabetes.”
Dr Jennifer Basaiawmoit further elaborated, “India is set to become the ‘Diabetes Capital’ of the World and currently has more than 30 Million diabetic patients and hence awareness is one of the major roadblocks that would need to be overcome.”
The Deputy Director Administration, Bansara Eye Care Centre, Aaron Basaiawmoit said, “Lack of health seeking behavior among the community is the primary reason for avoidable blindness in the state.”
The awareness main focus would be to try and reach out to approximately 1.85 Million people living in Meghalaya who would be empowered with information on Diabetes and DR.
The three year project has been thoroughly developed and designed by Bansara Eye Care Centre to cater to the needs of the people of the state and address these issues involving capacity building of the retina department of the hospital so that it is equipped to handle all DR cases, training of more than 1400 health propagators across the state using a ‘Top-Down’ approach, the propagators including General Doctors, Diabetologists, Optometrists/MLOP, Community Health Workers, ASHA Facilitators, ASHAs, developing a solid IEC(Information, Education and Communication ) campaign using innovative strategies, screening at least 125,000 people for diabetes over the project duration through 640 DR screening camps which will be conducted for Free for the people across various districts of the state of Meghalaya.
All DR detected patients will also have access to state of the art treatment facilities at Bansara Eye Care Hospital and would not be left wanting.
The Deputy Director expressed his hope that the success of this 3 year project will depend highly on the on the collaboration of all the stakeholders involved.
“It is a humble appeal to all stakeholders including the State Government, Local NGOs, Religious Bodies, Educational Institutions, Members of the Press, Doctors, Diabetologists, all health and community workers and most importantly the community to join hands and help us work together to reduce avoidable blindness due to diabetes in our state. Only through convergence of all efforts from various stakeholders could something like this be made into a sustainable venture for the benefit of the community at large,” said the Deputy Director, Bansara Eye Care Centre.(SP News)
