SHILLONG: Meghalaya has more than 1 lakh diabetics and no detailed scientific study was done on number of patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in the region, it was informed at the closing ceremony of the ‘Three year diabetic retinopathy management in Meghalaya’ project at Poinisuk Hotel on Monday.
The three-year project is aimed at addressing the low level of awareness and rising number of diabetics in which people are going blind due to diabetic retinopathy.
Aaron Basaiawmoit, CEO of Bansara Eye Care Centre, observed that India is soon to be the diabetes centre of the world and diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness.
Later in a press conference, Basaiawmoit said, “One in five persons will have diabetic retinopathy and they will not even be aware as symptoms come too late.”
Jennifer V. Basaiawmoit, founder and medical director of Bansara Eye Care Centre, said DR is identified as the leading cause of blindness in India.
Replying to a query, she said that DR is heightened due to the duration, severity of the disease, people associated with hypertension is also at a risk.
Over the years, as per the performance report of Bansara Eye Care Center, 2013-2016, the number of (DR) has increased.
According to the performance report for 2013-14, Bansara Eye Care Centre stated that the number of DR cases detected is 470, for 2014-15 it is 359 and for 2015-16 it is 656. Bansara has established 11 clinics so far.
Stating that DR is largely asymptomatic, she said, “Early detection and management of risk factors in diabetic retinopathy is needed to control diabetic retinopathy and skilled manpower needs to be available.”
According to her, medical practitioners and community leaders should be given thorough awareness on this matter.
More than 1 lakh people were screened for diabetes in which 9,424 patients were detected of which 1,485 cases were detected and treated for DR.
Altogether 2,460 people were trained for the project, 555 doctors, 400 nurses and 1,505 paramedics, educators and health workers were also trained during the project.
