WDF projects get the Limelight

Positive attention has been drawn to a WDF supported diabetic retinopathy project in the southern state of Karnataka, India. An award winning paper may result in the project activities spreading to other districts.

A paper on the WDF supported project “Retinopathy treatment on wheels” titled "Training of Rural Ophthalmologists in Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis and Treatment" has been adjudged as the best scientific paper at the 25th Silver Eyecon-2006 conference, a state-level annual conference of Karnataka Ophthalmic Society. The paper was competing with a field of 173 papers.

Requests for sharing the knowledge and services

In addition a poster related to the same project, titled "Transporting of delicate ophthalmic instruments in a mobile unit" was adjudged as the second best poster among 52 competitors.

In the opinion of Community Relations and Fundraising responsible Subbakrishna Rao, Dr. Praveen and the project team at Vittala International Institute of Ophthalmology (VIIO), the recognition has had a positive effect for their work in diabetic retinopathy. “The awards made the project visible to over 800 ophthalmologists attending the conference”, says Subbakrishna Rao; “subsequently, we have received two requests to assist in programmes and vehicle design by two NGOs in other parts of the country, which will deliver similar services.”

The attention drawn to the project has resulted in 17 requests from bordering districts of the project to extend the facility to them as well. Some requests for copies of the training material on Diabetic Retinopathy have been received.

Screening and treatment on wheels

The “Retinopathy treatment on wheels” project has been running since March 2005. The project team aims to create a programme to improve treatment for diabetic retinopathy in remote areas. Training in diabetes detection, management and counselling is given to several levels of health care professionals; ophthalmologists, general practitioners and health workers. By using a specially build bus, screening, consultation and treatment facilities are brought to people in the rural areas.

The project operates mostly in semi urban and rural settings where the project area is spread across 9 districts in Karnataka with a target population of 15.4 million.

The mobile unit visits each district every three weeks. Currently the project network consists of about 70 ophthalmologists, 9 hospitals and over 200 general practitioners. More than 1624 procedures have been performed on the mobile unit along with 67 sight saving vitreo retinal surgeries at the base hospitals in Bangalore.

WDF projects recognised for the results

“It is both heartening and humbling to note that the contributions of the Foundation are starting to be recognised. At the World Congress on Diabetes in Cape Town several WDF projects were presented and received much attention. It was heartening to note that the opening lecture, the closing lecture, as well as several presentations in the Africa track at the World Congress referred to WDF supported projects. Additionally, the October issue of “Practical Diabetes” carries six articles based on WDF funded projects“ says Anil Kapur, Managing Director of WDF.