Diabetes eye care II

Area Partner Project responsible Duration Project budget WDF contribution Project number

Pondicherry/Tamil Nadu, India Aravind Eye Hospitals Dr. Namperumalsamy Nov. 2004 - January 2008 USD 537,250 USD 200,000 WDF04-079

Objective

The project seeks to reduce blindness resulting from diabetes and to raise public awareness of prevention, symptoms and complications of diabetes.

The project builds on the already on-going WDF funded project WDF02-039.

Expected Impact

• 100,000 people in Pondicherry and nearby districts will be screened for diabetes
• About 10% of the diabetic retinopathy patients in Pondicherry and nearby districts will receive laser treatment
• 200 general practitioners and medical specialists will be trained on detection and diagnosis of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy
• The first epidemiological study on diabetic retinopathy in semi-urban and rural India will be conducted

Results to date as of April 2006

• Project inaugurated and first diabetic retinopathy screening camp held 23 January 2005
• A total of 76 diabetes screening camps have been held, screening 23,488 people, diagnosing 2,587 with diabetes and 385 with diabetic retinopathy
• Since May 2005, 44 exclusive camps for detecting diabetic retinopathy have been held. During the screening of 17,113 people, 3700 new cases of diabetes where found and a total of them 472 were diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy
• In addition to specific screening camps, 13,908 people have been screened during awareness campaigns, detecting 1208 new cases of diabetes
• Laser Photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy has been given to 559 identified cases
• Awareness: 102 seminars for either doctors, paramedics or others have been held, like 105 diabetic patients & ophthalmologist interaction sessions. A large number of posters, pamphlets and folders are distributed. A Diabetes Fair has also been arranged
• An epidemiological study in Theni district has been finished August 2006

Additional information on the project can be found here.