WAF, Dodoma: Acting Director of Non-Communicable Diseases from the Ministry of Health, Ms. Edith Bakari has said that the availability of Portable Fundus Camera technology used to conduct early screening for the effects of diabetes on the eye (diabetic retinopathy) is expected to benefit more than 15 to 20 million citizens in the regions of Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mbeya and surrounding areas.
Speaking during a training session on the use of these cameras held at Benjamini Mkapa Hospital, Ms. Bakari said that, through this technology, patients will be able to be diagnosed early before reaching dangerous stages, enabling early treatment and reducing or completely preventing blindness caused by diabetes.
“These devices are expected to be fully used in diabetes clinics in our hospitals and in mobile services, this will help reach many citizens who do not easily access health care facilities”, said Ms. Edith
She thanked the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) which has been working closely with the Ministry of Health to implement various interventions to improve eye care.
The Acting Manager of the National Eye Care Programme from the Ministry of Health, Dr. Eunice Headcraph said that after this training for experts from the hospitals that received the cameras (Benjamini Mkapa, Muhimbili-Mloganzila and Mbeya Regional Referral Hospital), each facility is expected to begin implementing this important service.
She said it is important for the experts to ensure that the equipment is fully used, with implementation going hand in hand with submitting monthly implementation reports showing the number of patients served, challenges encountered, treated and the type of treatment provided.
