L V Prasad Eye Institute has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare (Govt of Andhra Pradesh) to establish newborn eye screening and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) Control in Andhra Pradesh state. This will help to identify serious eye problems in the newborn that often get diagnosed very late; and also eliminate ROP blindness by organised and efficient screening strategy. ROP is one of the major emerging causes of childhood blindness in India and leads to incurable vision loss in prematurely born and low birth weight babies. WHO has identified ROP as one of its key areas for preventing childhood blindness under its Vision 2020, Right to Sight programme.
Speaking on the occasion of the launch of the Neonatal Eye Screening and ROP Control in Andhra Pradesh (NES & ROP-CAP) Program, Dr T Geeta Prasadini, In-charge Director of Public Health, Government of Andhra Pradesh said, “The Government of India has allotted Rs 168.80 lakhs towards the Programme Implementation Plan for the Year 2012-13 to establish Newborn Eye Screening and the ROP-CAP programme in the state for this period. With the programme implemented under the able guidance of LVPEI faculty, we are happy to extend support to ensure that no newborn baby including premature babies in Andhra Pradesh be needlessly blind or visually impaired by 2020.”
General ophthalmologists, retinal surgeons, pediatricians, neonatologists and the nursing staff involved, from the state of Andhra Pradesh, will be trained and empowered in the diagnosis and management of premature babies for ROP and screening for all other newborns for any early onset eye problems. Training will also be imparted to pediatricians and the concerned nurses to identify babies at risk and facilitate speedy referral to trained eye and retinal surgeons. The training will be conducted at LVPEI and at the district level through CME programs/ workshops focusing on increasing the awareness on ROP and neonatal eye problems.
LVPEI aid will establish the Neonatal Eye Screening (NES) and ROP-CAP with the following aims and objectives:
- Regional Institutes of Ophthalmology (RIO): Eye institutes managed (four centres) ROP screening and Prophylactic laser treatment with portable equipment.
- Community NICU based centres for screening.
- Training and education of manpower including CMEs and hands on training at L V Prasad Eye Institute.
- Neonatal eye screening for all newborns in the established state community delivery centres.
Dr Subhadra Jalali, Head, Consultant Ophthalmologist in Smt. Kanuri Santhamma Retina Vitreous Centre at L V Prasad Eye Institute said, “A newborn child requires comprehensive eye screening before discharge and again by three months of age, to detect any common birth defects that may be corrected by early and appropriate intervention. In premature/ low birth weight babies, it is critical to do a dilated retinal examination before 20-30 days of life and conduct close followup till the baby’s retina is fully developed. The training programme is aimed at creating a network of personnel and services to manage the problem of ROP in a cost effective manner at the patient’s doorstep.”
EH News Bureau