Diabetic retinopathy awareness camp held

Hyderabad: A camp was organised by Dr R Radhika Rohini, A Principal Investigator, under the auspices of Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH, Hyderabad) and The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust at Anganwadi Centre, New Patel Nagar, Hyderabad on Thursday.

Speaking on this occasion, Dr Radhika Rohini said that one in five diabetics was being diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes leading to blindness which can be avoidable. Being asymptomatic in the early stages, preventive annual retina screening is the only way to address it. Dr Radhika has informed to the patients about various public health and eye hospitals in the city where the patients can go for the retina check up.

SPARK eye clinic has offered to do the retina check up free of cost for the patients who attended the camp. The patients were also informed about proper dietary practices of diabetics, importance of adherence and compliance of diabetes medicine and other complications of diabetes through a presentation and video films. Free random blood sugar tests were done.

R Narsing Rao, Director Sahara said that free check up and transport to Eye clinics was arranged and asked the patients to avail the benefit. ASHA workers, Anitha Malathi coordinated the awareness programme and participated in the training session on information about DR Yearly compulsory retina check up for diabetes was emphasised.